Titanium Dioxide in the Masterbatch Industry
Plastic masterbatch is a highly concentrated and high performance color configuration product, i.e. the pigment is evenly distributed in the carrier resin with extraordinary concentration and formed into particles of certain particle size. It mainly consists of core layer (pigment), coupling layer (coupling agent or surfactant), dispersing layer (lubricant or dispersant), and mixing layer (carrier resin), etc. It is used as coloring agent in plastics, and is widely used in the production of plastic products such as blown film, injection molding, hot pressing, and injection molding, etc. The color masterbatch has superior coloring effect, is easy to use, saves energy, and is free of dust and sewage when used, so it is highly favored by users. The development of masterbatches is fast, and the production process of masterbatches is simple and the investment is small. There are hundreds of masterbatch factories in China, and the competition is getting fierce, and the profits of manufacturers are decreasing, and the quality of most masterbatch products is low.
According to incomplete statistics, the titanium dioxide used in the production of masterbatches 20,000 to 30,000 tons per year, the rutile used is divided into high, medium and low grades, high-grade use of imported rutile, mid-range use of domestic rutile, low-grade use of domestic anatase titanium dioxide. China's largest color masterbatch producer, Huizhou Sunsun Chemical, uses imported rutile to produce masterbatches mainly for export, and uses domestic titanium dioxide to produce masterbatches to meet the domestic market. Due to the fierce competition, there is a tendency to increase the number of masterbatches using anatase titanium dioxide.
Masterbatches can be used to color-match PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and ABS plastics. Its main components are pigment, resin, dispersant, bulk pigment, fluorescent whitening agent, anti-oxidant, anti-UV agent, anti-static agent, toughening agent, brightening agent, etc. Titanium dioxide is used in it as white pigment, which has the advantages of non-toxicity, chemical stability, high covering power and good dispersibility.
Masterbatch is used as an industrial raw material, the performance advantages and disadvantages are usually shown in the subsequent product applications (such as blown film or injection molding), therefore, the performance of titanium white in the color masterbatch is also mainly reflected in the application process of masterbatch. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects.
1)Coloring ability of titanium dioxide: determine the amount of titanium dioxide used for the same plastic product color.
2) whiteness of titanium dioxide: determines the appearance of light-colored (white) plastic products with the same titanium dioxide content.
3) the dispersion of titanium dioxide: affects the cost of production and the appearance of plastic products, gloss and other indicators.
4) Processing performance of titanium dioxide: affects the production cost of masterbatches.
