- Furthermore, the competitive landscape in China's lithopone pigment industry should not be overlooked. Major players like Zhejiang Huayi Chemical, Yunnan Yuntianhua, and Sichuan Long March Chemical compete fiercely, often adjusting their prices to maintain market share.
Variations of titanium dioxide are added to enhance the whiteness of paint, plastics, and paper products, though these variations differ from the food-grade ones for things we eat (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).
- Titanium dioxide is primarily used as a pigment in paints, plastics, paper, and other materials. Its ability to reflect light makes it an ideal choice for enhancing color and opacity. Moreover, titanium dioxide's stability and non-toxic nature ensure that it remains safe and effective over time.
There are numerous manufacturers of titanium dioxide; the largest include Delaware-based Chemours (a spin-off of DuPont Chemical), Texas-based Kronos, and China-based Lomon Billions Group, all of which manufacture pigments for use in products like paints, coatings, and plastics. UK-based Venator is a major supplier of titanium dioxide used in food and cosmetics, along with paints, paper, plastic, and more. As a pigment, it is called Pigment White 6 (PW6), titanium white, or CI 77891. As a food additive, it is known as E171.
Close to sample - The production of lithopone begins with the synthesis of its core components. Zinc sulfide is typically derived from the reaction between zinc oxide (ZnO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This chemical reaction occurs at high temperatures, resulting in a fine, white powder that serves as one of the primary constituents of lithopone.
- Furthermore, mixed crystal nano titania possesses excellent electron transport properties, which make it an ideal material for use in solar cells and batteries. Its ability to efficiently transfer electrons between different materials enhances the performance of these devices, leading to higher energy conversion efficiency and longer lifespan. This characteristic also makes it a promising candidate for use in semiconductors and electronic devices.
2. Lithopone is widely used in the plastic industry.
Traditionally, UV-filters are categorized as either chemical or physical. The big difference is supposed to be that chemical agents absorb UV-light while physical agents reflect it like a bunch of mini umbrellas on top of the skin. While this categorization is easy and logical it turns out it's not true. A recent, 2016 study shows that inorganic sunscreens work mostly by absorption, just like chemical filters, and only a little bit by reflection (they do reflect the light in the visible spectrum, but mostly absorb in the UV spectrum).
Although barium sulfate is almost completely inert, zinc sulfide degrades upon exposure to UV light, leading to darkening of the pigment. The severity of this UV reaction is dependent on a combination of two factors; how much zinc sulfide makes up the pigments formulation, and its total accumulated UV exposure. Depending on these factors the pigment itself can vary in shade over time, ranging from pure white all the way to grey or even black. To suppress this effect, a dopant may be used, such as a small amount of cobalt salts, which would be added to the formulation. This process creates cobalt-doped zinc sulfide. The cobalt salts help to stabilize zinc sulfide so it will not have as severe a reaction to UV exposure.
While IARC listed titanium dioxide as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” they also add that “there is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of titanium dioxide.” Of the four human studies that they reviewed, only one showed a potential risk for occupational workers inhaling titanium dioxide particles and lung cancer, while the other three showed no risk for cancer at all. And it’s key to note that IARC did not assess the effects of titanium dioxide found in foods.
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