Lithopone: an alternative to titanium dioxide

Lithopone in plastics and masterbatch

Durabo White, 24.5 per cent zinc sulphide, 51 per cent barium sulphate, 18 per cent white clay, 5.5 per cent infusorial earth.

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A dense, white, opaque pigment composed of a mixture of Zinc sulfide (30%) and Barium sulfate (70%) with trace amounts of Zinc oxide. Lithopone, first produced in 1874, was called Orr's white. The mixture of the two components is so intimate that it is hard to distinguish microscopically. Lithopone is an inert, transparent pigment which is often used as a filler or as a base for lake pigments. Lithopone was widely used in house paints in the first half of the 20th century. It was also used for some artist grounds, inks and as a filler in Paper, Leather, and Linoleum. Now lithopone has mostly been replaced by Titanium dioxide.

The conjugation of vitamin C to the P25TiO₂NPs was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy of lyophilized vitaminC@P25TiO₂NPs suspensions. The typical absorbance peak of ascorbic acid at 265 nm was found. However, no further characterization was done because they did not show the expected protective effect against the photo-induced cell damage (Fig. 3).

Both P25TiO₂NPs (with or without vitamin B2) were not found beyond the epidermis in 99% of the analyzed TEM images (Fig. 8). This is coherent with previous findings showing that nanoparticles greater than 50 nm can not penetrate the skin, even in vivo models with movement, stretching, and friction [54]. However, in one of the zones, a few nanoparticles were observed inside a hair follicle. This could be due to the follicle exposure after the localized rupture of this physical barrier when rats were shaved in order to clean the area for cream topical administration. This finding suggests that nanoparticle-based sunscreen should not be applied on recently shaved or harmed skin, in order to avoid nanoparticle skin penetration.

Studies have been carried out with both emulsion paints and powder paints, both with clear results on how the use of Lithopone 30% reduces the appearance of algae in the paint once it has been applied (see photos). 

Lithopone An Essential Ingredient in Paint Production

In food, titanium dioxide is often used as an artificial color additive. Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist at the consumer health nonprofit Environmental Working Group, says titanium dioxide can generally be thought of as a paint primer – it often goes on a hard-shelled candy like Skittles before the color is added to give it a uniform shine.

In conclusion, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide are important minerals that are used in various industries. While they are both produced by manufacturers, they have different manufacturing processes and applications. Understanding the differences between these two minerals can help industries make informed decisions about which one to use for their specific needs.

According to CCM, many enterprises, which belong to the top exporting producers of TiO2 in China, will speed up their efforts to go public. Reasons are the strong rebound of the TiO2 market in China as well as the positive view on 2017.

Of the two methods of extraction, the sulphate process is currently the most popular method of producing TiO₂ in the European Union, accounting for 70 percent of European sources. The remaining 30 percent is the result of the chloride process. On a global level, it is estimated about 40-45 percent of the world’s production is based on the chloride process.

A Lawsuit Claims Skittles Are Unfit for Consumption. Experts Weigh in, by Rachel Rabkin Peachman, The New York Times, July 26, 2022

The major restraint to the global Lithopone market is the availability of numerous white pigment substitutes. It can be replaced by other inorganic white pigments such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Sachtolith. Among these substitutes, the introduction of TiO2 has reduced the commercial importance of Lithopone white pigment. Compared to other white pigments, TiO2 has high brightness and refractive index, which results in lower pigment loading.