Titanium dioxide, which is considered to be the best performing white pigment in the world today.Titanium dioxide is the highest-performing white pigment currently available. As a major inorganic chemical, it is widely used in coatings, inks, papermaking, plastics, rubber, chemical fibers, and ceramics.The material is classified in three primary ways based on different standards:
1)Classification by Production Process
Industrial manufacturing primarily relies on the sulfuric acid method, chloride method, and hydrochloric acid extraction method.
A) The Sulfuric Acid Method
This traditional manufacturing process consists of four main stages: acid hydrolysis, leaching, hydrolysis, and calcination.Although the sulfuric acid process is mature, has simple equipment, and low investment, it generates a large amount of wastewater, waste gas, and waste residue, which puts pressure on the environment; In addition, the yield is low, energy consumption is high, resource utilization is low, product quality is poor, and whiteness and coverage are insufficient.
B) The chlorination method
The chlorination method has gradually gained attention since its emergence in the 1960s. The chlorination method has high yield, low energy consumption, high resource utilization rate, and produces high-quality titanium dioxide with excellent whiteness and coverage, strong stability, few impurities, good dispersibility, and minimal waste, resulting in low environmental impact.
C) The hydrochloric acid method
The hydrochloric acid method can produce high-quality titanium dioxide through extraction and calcination processes. This technology has low requirements for raw materials, short process, low cost, and achieves zero solid waste generation. The main auxiliary materials can be recycled. The product outperforms traditional methods in terms of performance, purity, and whiteness, meeting the requirements of clean production and promoting the green development of the industry.
Comparison of Production Technologies for Titanium Dioxide
| Sulfate Process | Chloride Process | Extraction Process | |
| Raw Materials | Ilmenite or acid-soluble titanium slag. Ilmenite: low cost, stable supply; acid-soluble titanium slag: higher cost, high quality. | Rutile, high cost, low process requirements. | Ilmenite, low cost, stable supply. |
| Product Type | Anatase, Rutile | Rutile | Anatase |
| Production Technology | Long application history, mature technology. |
Newer technology, certain technical barriers. |
Latest technology, high technical barriers. |
| Product Quality | Average | Good | Good |
| Pollution & Waste | High waste generation, large environmental pressure. | Less wastewater/solid waste, low environmental pressure. | Raffinate and ferric chloride solution recyclable, low environmental pressure. |
| Process Flow | Batch production, long and complex process. | Continuous production, long but simple process. | Continuous production, relatively simple. |
| Plant Safety | Main hazard from hot concentrated sulfuric acid; liquid storage easy, leaks easy to handle. | Hazards from chlorine gas and high-temperature titanium chloride gas; gas leaks are highly harmful to the environment. | Hazards from chlorine gas and high-temperature titanium chloride gas. |
| National Policy | Restricted | Encouraged | Encouraged |
2) Classification by Crystal Structure
Based on crystal structure, there are anatase and rutile forms of titanium dioxide. As the low-temperature phase, anatase is highly photocatalytic. However, it has low weather resistance. Rutile is the high-temperature phase. It offers strong covering power and weather resistance. Rutile also shields effectively against ultraviolet radiation.
3) Classification by Application
Target applications divide the material into pigment grade and special grade. Pigment grade acts as a white pigment for coatings, plastics, and papermaking. It delivers good covering power, coloring strength, and gloss. Special grade serves as a functional material in cosmetics, food, and medicine. It provides UV absorption, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility.
Baoji Yibaite New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. - The Best Manufacturer and Supplier of Titanium Materials