Uses of Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is an inorganic compound mainly produced from ilmenite commonly utilized as pigment in different applications. It is synthesized by two main processes: chloride or sulphate, and is typically insoluble in water taking a white form.
Titanium Dioxide in Sunscreens
Titanium dioxide’s use in sunscreens stems from its broad-spectrum protection safeguarding the skin against harmful UV rays (UVA and UVB). It acts as a physical barrier reflecting and scattering UV radiation away from the skin.
As such, titanium dioxide rarely causes skin irritation or allergic reactions compared to chemical sunscreens. The latter absorb UV radiation before converting into heat.
You can learn more about TiO2 in cosmetics.
Titanium Dioxide in Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry that focusses on straightening teeth that are misaligned or malocclusions. Titanium dioxide finds use in orthodontics as a coating for orthodontic brackets and wires offering protection against corrosion and discoloration.
Using titanium dioxide coating also reduces friction between the brackets and wires. This results in smoother tooth movement which ensures there’s less discomfort for the patient.
It can also achieve a cosmetic benefit as the coating can be colored to blend with the natural color of teeth. Use of titanium dioxide is thanks to its biocompatibility as it is non-toxic and non-reactive not capable of causing allergic reactions.
Titanium Dioxide in Prosthesis
Titanium dioxide is used in the fabrication of dental prosthetics, such as dentures and bridges. It is typically combined with the acrylic or resin material to enhance its strength and durability. It can also provide a more natural appearance to the prosthetic material blending with the existing teeth.
Titanium Dioxide in Endodontic
Endodontics in dentistry deals with the treatment of the dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of teeth. Titanium dioxide finds use in root canal filling materials as a radio-pacifier allowing their visibility in on X-rays.
Thus, it allows endodontists to monitor treatment ensuring the root canal is properly filled while enhancing the filling material’s physical properties. It is also biocompatible posing no toxicity or reactions in the body and does not dissolve making it a permanent solution.
Titanium Dioxide in Toothpaste
Titanium dioxide’s ability to scatter and reflect light allows use in toothpastes alongside other whitening agents making teeth whiter and brighter. It also serves as a thickening agent while its antimicrobial properties help reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. A reason TiO2 is common in toothpaste.
Titanium Dioxide in Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used in supporting replacement teeth or dental prostheses. Titanium dioxide is used as a coating for the implant surface enhancing the bond with the surrounding bone tissue ensuring permanence.
The coating also enhances corrosion resistance, wear resistance and implant biocompatibility, promoting bone integration and thus reducing inflammation and rejection. It also improves aesthetic appearance by reducing visibility of the metal component matching to the teeth’s natural color.
Titanium Dioxide in Oral Disinfectants
Titanium dioxide’s antimicrobial properties, particularly against gram-negative bacteria make it a pivotal addition in oral disinfectants. Its use is in the form of nanosized particles, shown to be more effective than larger particles in killing bacteria.
Titanium Dioxide in Bone Grafting
The biocompatibility and ability to promote bone growth of titanium dioxide allows for its use in bone grafting materials. Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that involves transplanting bone tissues or replacing damaged bones.
Titanium dioxide can be applied as a coating on bone graft materials promoting bone growth and integration with the surrounding tissue. Using titanium dioxide’s antibacterial properties, also reduce risk of infection by preventing bacterial growth.
Titanium Dioxide in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Titanium dioxide anodes in lithium-ion batteries present a capable alternative to graphite due to their superior safety, stability, and capacity retention. Titanium dioxide reacts with lithium ions resulting in lithium titanate with high rate capability and cycle life, and reduced thermal runaway.
Titanium Dioxide as a Photo-catalyst
Titanium dioxide’s ability to generate reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light enables its use as a photo-catalyst. The reactive oxygen species oxidizes and breaks down organic pollutants into harmless substances in a process called photocatalytic oxidation.
As a photo-catalyst, titanium dioxide is inert, non-toxic and environmentally friendly making it safe and effective. Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species generated during photo-catalysis are short-lived and do not accumulate in the environment.
Titanium Dioxide in Make-Up
Titanium dioxide finds primary use in as a pigment in make-up powders and foundations providing a bright white color and opacity. It’s non-toxic and non-irritant with large particles incapable of penetrating the skin and being absorbed making its use safe.
Titanium in Food Coloring
Titanium dioxide provides a white, opaque appearance to a variety of food and dairy products as a coloring agent. It is commonly known as E171 and it is unreactive with the food component hence doesn’t alter taste or texture.
Titanium oxide is also insoluble and stable at high temperatures allowing use in baked goods and other heat-treated foods. Titanium dioxide as a food colorant is present in other consumed items such as chocolates, chewing gum, and ice cream.
Air Treatment Using Titanium Dioxide
The photocatalysis of titanium dioxide is can break down air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. UV radiation catalyzes titanium dioxide creating reactive oxygen species which breaks down pollutants into simpler and less harmful compounds.
Titanium Dioxide Based Solar Cells
Titanium dioxide can act as a photo-anode facilitating electron transfer between the dye and in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These are a thin-film solar cell type that utilize a photosensitive dye to absorb light and generate electricity.
Here, titanium dioxide nanoparticles are coating with a photosensitive dye that absorbs photons of light, generating electrons. These electrons transfer to the titanium dioxide layer acting as an electrode which generates an electric current.
Titanium Dioxide in Plastics
The primary use of titanium dioxide in plastics is as a pigment providing white color and opacity to plastic products. Titanium dioxide absorbs and scatters UV radiation (which causes discoloration, brittleness, and cracking of plastic products) thus preventing their degradation.
Titanium Dioxide in Sensors
Titanium dioxide’s physicochemical properties allow for use in gas sensors and biosensors. Gas sensors detect various gases, pollutants, and volatile organic compounds, while biosensors detect biological molecules like DNA and enzymes.
In gas sensors, titanium dioxide exhibits changes in response to a gas that affect electrical conductivity or optical properties. In biosensors, biomolecules get immobilized on titanium dioxide’s surface allowing interaction with analyte inducing change in the optical or electrical properties.
Titanium Dioxide Pigments in Paints and Coatings
Titanium dioxide finds use in the paint and coatings industry due to its excellent opacity, whiteness, and brightness. It is the most widely used pigment in architectural paints, industrial and automotive coatings.
Titanium dioxide can effectively shield underlying surfaces with a thin layer of paint for both interior and exterior architectural paints. It also provides a highly durable finish thanks to its resistance to degradation by UV light and other environmental factors.
In industrial coatings, titanium dioxide is used as a pigment providing color and opacity to metal coatings, wood coatings, and coil coatings. It is also utilized as a functional filler in coatings providing improved scratch and wear resistance.
Titanium dioxide pigment is utilized in automotive coatings in basecoats and clearcoats providing the desired color and opacity. It also provides protection against UV radiation and weather resistance.
Titanium Dioxide in Inks
Use of titanium dioxide in inks provides high contrast between the ink and the substrate thanks to its opacity and sharpness. Titanium dioxide is non-toxic and non-reactive, useful in making security printing and fluorescent inks resistant to fading and discoloration.
Titanium Dioxide Paper Productions
Titanium dioxide is added to different paper products like printing and packaging papers to provide brightness, opacity, and whiteness. In printing and writing papers, brightness and opacity are important features for high-quality printing and writing.
Typically, titanium dioxide is added to the paper pulp where it combines with the paper fibers. Titanium dioxide is also resistant to yellowing, fading, and smudging contributing to the overall durability and printability of the paper.
Coated papers used in high-quality printing applications, like magazines utilize titanium dioxide to provide a smooth, white, and glossy surface. Titanium dioxide is added to the coating formulation, before application over the paper surface by blade or curtain coating.
Titanium Dioxide in Medicines
Pharmaceutical products such as medicine utilize titanium dioxide as a colorant and opacifier augmenting opacity and whiteness for contrast purposes. It is also utilized as a coating to safeguard dosage forms from moisture and other external elements.
Titanium Dioxide in Hydrogen Production
Titanium dioxide can be utilized in hydrogen production via photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. In this process, titanium dioxide absorbs light generating an electron-hole pairing capable of reducing water to hydrogen and oxygen.
It can also be used in photo-electrochemical cells as anode material where it generates electron-hole pairs from absorbed light. The resulting electrons are thereafter used to reduce water to hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Titanium Dioxide Coatings on Stainless Steel
Coatings of titanium dioxide on stainless steel improve on steel’s anti-corrosive and self-cleaning properties. The coating is applied through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition resulting in a thin layer of titanium dioxide over the stainless steel substrate.
The anti-corrosion barrier over stainless steel allows use in equipment for the food industry and medical devices. This coatings also exhibits self-cleaning properties thanks to titanium dioxide’s photocatalytic activity.
Waste Water Treatment using Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is utilized in the treatment of wastewater to break down organic pollutants into harmless substances via UV exposure. This is possible in two ways where titanium dioxide is used as a suspended catalyst or as a fixed-bed reactor.
As a suspended catalyst, nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are added to the wastewater before UV light induced activation of the photocatalytic process. When in a fixed-bed reactor configuration, titanium dioxide treats the wastewater flowing through the reactor while immobilized on a support material.
Titanium in Self-Cleaning Surfaces
The self-cleaning properties of titanium dioxide stem from its photocatalytic capabilities that accelerate organic compound breakdown thus preventing dirt build-up. You find self-cleaning surfaces made from titanium dioxide utilized in windows, roofs, bathroom fixtures, and some textiles.
Titanium Dioxide in Agriculture
Titanium dioxide in agriculture finds use in crop protection as a pesticide offering defense against pests like fungi, bacteria, and insects. It is also utilized in soil remediation to remove heavy metals and other pollutants from the soil.
Another application is as a growth enhancer where it increases plant photosynthetic efficiency by increasing light absorption and reducing energy loss. Titanium dioxide also enhances nutrient uptake leading to improved growth and yield.
Titanium Dioxide in Supplements
Coating supplement tablets and capsules with titanium dioxide helps protect the contents from degradation by moisture and air. Use of titanium dioxide is considered safe given it is non-reactive and biocompatible once in the body.
Conclusion
As you can see there are many uses of titanium dioxide in many industries. At Inter Chemical China, we help you get high quality TiO2 for all your applications – contact us now.