1. Industrial Uses and Functional Benefits
Coating Industry – the Largest Application Sector (Mainly Rutile TiO₂)
- Interior and exterior architectural coatings: Provides high hiding power, strong weather resistance, and washability.
- Automotive topcoats: Enhance corrosion resistance and anti-yellowing performance.
- Industrial anti-corrosion coatings: Offers excellent high-temperature and chemical resistance, protecting bridges, ships, and heavy equipment while extending coating life.
Plastics Industry – the Second Largest Application Sector
Improves heat resistance, lightfastness, and weatherability; enhances physical and chemical properties and increases mechanical strength.
Applications include:
- White goods: refrigerators, air conditioners
- Food packaging: bottles, films
- Automotive parts: dashboards, bumpers
Greatly prolongs product service life.
Papermaking Industry – the Third Largest Application Sector
- Anatase TiO₂: Used in standard-grade papers (Bible paper, office paper) to enhance whiteness, gloss, and strength.
- Rutile TiO₂: Used in laminated paper for superior heat and light resistance; provides opacity and prevents ink penetration while reducing basis weight.
Rubber Industry
Mainly uses anatase as a colorant, reinforcing agent, and anti-aging additive.
- White and colored rubber products (shoes, floor mats, gloves) gain improved sunlight resistance, anti-cracking, and color stability.
- Rutile TiO₂ for automotive tires: Enhances ozone and UV resistance, improving durability under extreme conditions.
Chemical Fiber Industry
Used primarily as a delustrant. Anatase type is preferred due to its softness.
Some specialized grades require surface treatment to reduce photocatalytic activity and prevent fiber degradation during UV exposure.
Ceramic and Enamel Industries
- Ceramic-grade TiO₂: High purity, uniform particle size, and strong refractive index; remains non-gray after 1200°C for 1 hour. Improves glaze whiteness, opacity, and surface quality for high-end ceramics and decorative materials.
- Enamel-grade TiO₂: High opacity and whiteness, strong acid resistance; produces thin, smooth, uniform enamel coatings and melts easily during production.
2. Daily Uses and Functional Benefits
Cosmetics
Non-toxic and safe, widely used as a replacement for lead white.
- Face powders (5%–8%): Long-lasting whitening, smooth feel, improved adhesion.
- Sunscreens: Nano TiO₂ reflects UV rays, providing mild physical sun protection.
- Toothpaste: A Safe whitening agent that improves cleaning performance.
- Used in foundations, tone-up creams, and lipsticks for instant coverage and brightening.
Food Industry
A compliant white pigment (European code E171).
Used in:
- Confectionery coatings
- Preserved fruits, jellies, and chewing gum
- Non-sweetened solid beverages
- Dairy beverages
- Puff snacks, candied products, jams
- Salad dressings, mayonnaise
Enhances brightness and appearance while meeting strict safety limits for lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals.
Pharmaceuticals
Serves as a white colorant in:
- Film coatings
- Sugar coatings
- Gelatin capsules
It can be blended with other colorants for dermatological formulations.
Also used as an excipient to replace starch, ensuring formulation stability.
Other Applications
- Inks: A key white pigment with excellent durability, color stability, and dispersibility.
- Asphalt pavement: Used to adjust color and produce light-colored pavements for improved aesthetics and visibility.
- Medical field: Used for coloring artificial bones and joint implants, enhancing surface appearance and product quality.