TiO2 Applications as a Function of Controlled Surface Treatment

Abstract

For the end use, the structure and morphology of the coated film are very important since they determine the final properties of the resultant material. The effect of coatings largely depends on their composition and method of application, which may give porous or dense coatings. To achieve uniform coatings on dispersed TiO2 particles, various compounds were deposited one after another under specific conditions by the wet chemical deposition method starting from rutile TiO2, produced by the sulfate method in Cinkarna Celje. With the synthesis of composite particles consisting of a core TiO2 particle coated with a functional shell with dimensions in the nano scale, we prepared advanced materials, where the shell protects the particles from undesirable interactions with the environment and improves surface reactive properties of the dispersed particles to meet special requirements. The morphology of surface-treated TiO2 particles has been identified directly using electron microscopy, while the degree of functionalization by various hydroxides was determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). In addition, zeta potential (ZP) measurements have been utilized to determine the electrochemical properties of resultant particles. The precipitation of hydroxides on the TiO2 surface resulted in the shift of the isoelectric point (IEP). UV-Vis spectroscopy has been used for determining light scattering efficiency. In addition to internal characterization, light fastness of durable grade intended for the application in laminates has been tested by the end user.