A yellow wall in the process of being painted white with a paint rollerA yellow wall in the process of being painted white with a paint roller

How to enhance titanium dioxide used in coatings applications without sacrificing quality


It's almost like clockwork: Every three years, markets see a routine spike in titanium dioxide (TiO2) prices. Global supply chain issues continue to impact production levels, which increases demand from coatings outlets, driving TiO2 prices higher. Cost-effective solutions that address titanium dioxide supply constraints – without negatively impacting performance needs – are a necessity to meet demand in the coatings and plastics industry.

To manage these pain points and mitigate issues now and when the next cycle emerges, Univar Solutions offers alternative routes to achieving high-quality, bright white, opaque base coatings.

Optimize your TiO2 supply and coatings formulations 


Our breadth of suppliers and robust supply chain network allow us to continually provide customers with materials traditionally used within the bounds of availability and current cost. This includes titanium dioxide.

Additionally, our technical sales team and global solution centers offer guidance on alternative formulations and raw material innovations to stay ahead of recent regulations and stringent labeling requirements for products that contain TiO2.

Titanium dioxide supplier solutions to reduce demand


Maximum efficiency and performance for low VOC formulations 

ANGUS amino alcohols are highly efficient dispersants and stabilizers for titanium dioxide. When used as codispersants in pigment grinds and slurries they can optimize the performance of titanium dioxide to improve hiding power. The use of AMP-95™ in pigment grinds ensures that formulators are extracting the greatest value from titanium dioxide and maximizing the performance of the formulation.

Unlike other amine neutralizers on the market, ANGUS amino alcohols offer a high neutralization efficiency combined with multifunctionality. When used in pigment grinds, ANGUS amino alcohols will ensure the maximum efficiency of titanium dioxide and color stability. When used for pH control they provide exceptional formulation stability even at low use levels. AMP-95™ is also the only organic amine to be VOC exempt by the U.S. EPA and the Government of Canada, making it an ideal ingredient for low VOC formulations.

Replace higher-cost water-washed kaolin products in your coatings

Air-float hydrous kaolin mineral products are used in a variety of coatings and have long provided desirable performance advantages in enamel holdout, sheen and gloss control, suspension or anti-settling, and sanding. Acti-Min® PG kaolin extender pigment was developed with higher brightness and suitable particle size to replace higher costs water-washed kaolin products in coatings. It provides three distinct advantages over popular water-washed kaolins – lower raw material cost, higher sheen, and gloss control, and greater titanium dioxide replacement.

Dow's 1-2 punch to help solve TiO2 issues

DOWSILTM 3 for your pigment dispersant needs

Most pigmented coating systems contain more than one pigment type. Flooding and floating occur when multiple pigments separate from one another and are no longer homogeneously distributed.

DOWSILTM 3 Additive most effectively prevents the occurrence of flooding and floating when used as a pigment dispersant in titanium dioxide white base paint. It is also effective as an anti-floating agent when post-added. A multifunctional additive, DOWSILTM 3 Additive also improves leveling so that often no additional silicone leveling agent is necessary for the final formulation.

To prevent titanium dioxide flooding and floating in combination with colored pigments, DOWSILTM 3 Additive can be used as the sole dispersant for titanium dioxide in white base paint. The color pigment concentrate can then be added during the let-down stage. The recommended dosage of DOWSILTM 3 Additive is 2–10 weight percent of the titanium dioxide used. In a paint containing 10 percent TiO2 by weight in the total formulation, this equates to 0.2–1 weight percent DOWSILTM 3 Additive in the total formulation.

EVOQUETM and ROPAQUETM for effective opacity and sustainability improvements

ROPAQUETM Opaque Polymers and EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymers offer novel routes to improved hiding efficiency, TiO2 reduction, formulation cost savings, and/or paint performance improvements. Both are major hiding technology breakthroughs that also offer key sustainability improvements as demonstrated by a third-party validated life cycle assessment.

How they work:

  • ROPAQUETM Opaque Polymer is a synthetic hollow-sphere pigment that independently scatters light and offers a partial replacement for higher-cost titanium dioxide.
  • EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymer is an advanced binder technology that helps to improve the light scattering efficiency of titanium dioxide by improving the uniformity of TiO2 particle distribution.
  • Both technologies offer equal or improved hiding with up to 20 percent less titanium dioxide or higher hiding at equal TiO2. Additive Improvement in many paint formulations, EVOQUETM and ROPAQUETM Polymers may be used in tandem to achieve additive improvement in titanium dioxide efficiency and even higher TiO2 savings. In addition, EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymers offer improvements in paint performance properties such as stain resistance and removal, dirt pick-up resistance, tint retention, tannin stain blocking, and corrosion resistance.

Features and benefits:

EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymer

  • 100% acrylic binder
  • Increases wet and dry hiding efficiency
  • Facilitates hiding improvement and/or TiO2 reduction
  • Low-VOC capable
  • Works in tandem with ROPAQUETM Opaque Polymers for additive hiding improvement or TiO2 reduction

ROPAQUETM Opaque Polymer

  • Polymeric light-scattering pigment
  • Replaces up to 20 percent of TiO2
  • Facilitates equal hiding and tint strength at a lower cost
  • Works in tandem with EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymers for additive hiding improvement or TiO2 reduction

Reduce TiO2 up to 20% with SYLOWHITE™ SM 405

SYLOWHITETM SM 405 is a precipitated amorphous sodium aluminum magnesium silicate with a very fine particle size and appears as a white free-flowing powder. Thanks to its performance benefits, it is widely used in different coatings applications.

Grace's TiO2 extender has a high level of purity, which results in minimum effects on color and enhances brightness properties. Its controlled particle size distribution and pore structure result in an extremely cost-effective titanium dioxide extender. SYLOWHITETM SM 405 Titanium Dioxide Extender causes a more homogeneous distribution of titanium dioxide particles and reduces the specific gravity of the paint:

 

Key properties of Grace's TiO2 extender:

  • Optimization of opacity when replacing titanium dioxide
  • Improved whiteness
  • Reduced yellowness of the paint on aging
  • Easy to disperse in the paint
  • Excellent application properties

Typical Applications: 

  • High-quality waterborne (exterior and interior) trade and DIY paints
  • High-quality solvent borne trade and DIY paints
  • Industrial coatings
  • Printing inks

 

Enhance your TiO2 opacity capabilities with Rhodoline®

One of the most important considerations when applying paint to any surface is how effectively the coating hides the substrate. The ability of a coating to provide hiding (coverage) is determined by the opacity of the coating. Opacity is based on the results of the complex interaction of various components, including pigments, extenders, mineral fillers, dispersants, wetting aids, etc.

The most commonly used opacifying agent in paint formulations is TiO2, which provides exceptional hiding power. However, titanium dioxide is one of the most expensive ingredients in a can of paint, so it is important to use TiO2 efficiently. Properly dispersing and stabilizing titanium dioxide and other mineral pigment particles will help provide better hiding along with a stable dispersion over time.

Below is a list of key Solvay dispersants for water-based coatings. It is important to note that other factors like the particle size of your latex system, or other fillers, can also have an impact on the hiding efficiency of TiO2 in your formulation.

 

ProductSaltSolidsUse levelBenefits
Hydrophobic Copolymer Dispersants
RHODOLINE® 111/111 ENa25%0.7-1.0%Good pigment wetting. Highly efficient for TiO2 and large surface area inorganic pigments
Hydrophilic Copolymer Dispersants
RHODOLINE® 286NNH450%0.5-1.0%Low foaming. Best for gloss development. Good cost/performance balance
RHODOLINE® 270Na43%0.5-1.0%Low foaming, polyacrylate for general pigment dispersion
Polyacid Dispersants
RHODOLINE® 226/35Na35%0.3-1.0%Loam foam. Recommended for reactive pigments (i.e. ZnO)

Coatings formulation development and testing services


Providing quality, durability, and regulatory compliance for TiO2 applications

Whether looking for full performance testing of your coatings products or seeking custom formulations to meet grueling regulatory requirements, our global Solution Centers can help resolve your titanium dioxide challenges.

With CASE chemical expertise in a variety of applications and material performance, Univar Solutions can help take your formulation demands to the next level.

Coatings and Plastics Market Insights: Are your titanium dioxide supplies covered?

Explore our article covering what you need to know about the titanium dioxide supply chain for paint and plastics manufacturers.

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