Titanium Dioxide

Brief Overview
Titanium dioxide, also known as Titanium(IV) or Titania, is a simple inorganic compound produced as a pure white powder with the molecular formula TiO2. Generally, it is available in two main crystal forms, which are rutile and anatase. Anatase is economical, easily dispersed in water-based systems, and a perfect opacifier. Untreated titanium dioxide (anatase) has TiO2 with a refractive index of 2.55. However, it is not commonly used in exterior (weather-exposed) paint applications except for highway paints.

Manufacturing Process
The sulphur process can produce TiO2 or titanium dioxide in both forms, anatase, and rutile in the following steps below:
Dissolving the raw material containing the titanium dioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid
Precipitation of hydrous titanium dioxide from the acidic solution by dilution and boiling (hydrolysis)
Leaching out of contaminants
Calcination (particle size increase) at temperatures of around 1,000ËšC
Purification and subsequent coating of the pigment with organic and inorganic oxides.