While loose titanium dioxide presents a problem, titanium dioxide within sunscreen formulations presents a much safer option than conventional sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. However, titanium dioxide may become dangerous when it is nanoparticle size. Generally, nanoparticles can be 1000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Despite nanoparticles becoming increasingly common across industries, they have not been properly assessed for human or environmental health effects, nor are they adequately regulated. Researchers don’t quite understand the impacts nanoparticles could have on human health and the environment. However, because of their infinitesimally small size, nanoparticles may be more chemically reactive and therefore more bioavailable, and may behave differently than larger particles of the same substance; these characteristics may lead to potential damage in the human body or ecosystem.
In conclusion, titanium dioxide plays a crucial role in the rubber industry by improving the quality, performance, and appearance of rubber products. Its unique combination of properties makes it a valuable additive in rubber formulations, offering benefits such as enhanced durability, UV resistance, and processing efficiency. With its versatility and effectiveness, titanium dioxide continues to be a preferred choice for rubber manufacturers looking to create high-quality and environmentally friendly rubber products.
Having thus described the origin and uses of the pigment, we now come to the question, what is lithopone? It is, in short, a chemical compound usually consisting of 30.5 per cent zinc sulphide, 1.5 per cent zinc oxide and 68 per cent barium sulphate, but these proportions vary slightly in the different makes. Lithopone of this composition is sold as the highest grade, either as red seal or green seal, as it best suits the idea of the manufacturer. Many manufacturers, especially in Europe, sell and also export other brands under other seals, containing 24, 20, 18 and as little as 12 per cent of zinc sulphide with very small percentages of zinc oxide, the balance being usually barium sulphate, but sometimes certain portions of China clay or gypsum (calcium sulphate) or whiting (calcium carbonate). Such brands are not a chemical compound, but mechanical mixtures of the chemically compounded lithopone and the admixtures referred to.
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. End-use industries such as paints and coatings are increasingly demanding TiO2 grades that offer superior performance in terms of opacity, whiteness, and durability
. As a result, manufacturers are investing in research and development to develop new and innovative TiO2 grades that meet these performance requirements.
. The company's team of experts is always available to address any customer inquiries or concerns, providing personalized solutions to meet the specific needs of each client.
At the same time, the company took the lead in building a product application testing system in the industry, and formed a relatively complete product application testing system. Among them, the hue of blue-phase R838 titanium dioxide reaches the world-class level. The gloss of R838 titanium dioxide, a silicon-aluminum coated product, has surpassed other domestic silicon-aluminum coated products, and reached or even exceeded some domestic zirconium-aluminum products. Titanium dioxide for color masterbatch is recognized by customers for its high whiteness, high coverage and other indicators, the product market share has been greatly increased, and it enjoys high brand awareness and reputation at home and abroad.
For a review published in 2023 in the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers examined E171 as a possible factor promoting obesity-related metabolic disorders. Because gut microbiota play an important role in immune function maintenance and development, and because titanium dioxide as a food additive has been shown to alter gut microbiota, researchers wanted to review “the dysregulations along the gut microbiota-immune system axis after oral TiO2 exposure compared to those reported in obese or diabetic patients, and to highlight potential mechanisms by which foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles may increase the susceptibility to develop obesity-related metabolic disorders.” The study authors discovered recurrent changes in the gut microbiota composition when exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with an imbalance of intestinal symbiotic microbiota. These changes and imbalances were also reported and played a role in the development of obesity, the authors wrote. This highlights “foodborne TiO2 nanoparticles as an endocrine disruptor-like chemical promoting obesity-related disorders,” the authors concluded.