Rutile Titanium Dioxide and Its Use in Polymer Systems

The following is a phase report which presents a literature review on the use of rutile titanium dioxide in polymer systems. It is part of an overall project to study the thermodynamics of polymer-pigment interactions and the relationship between these interactions and the bulk properties of organic coatings. Titanium dioxide is extensively used as a filter in polymer systems because of its ability to impart whiteness, opacity, and chemical stability to the resulting composite. The manufacturing process, properties of rutile titanium dioxide are reviewed. The properties of composites produced from titanium dioxide and polymer systems are also reviewed. These properties are discussed in relation to polymer-particle interactions. An approach is presented to study polymer-pigment interactions by analyzing thermodynamic properties such as enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption. Keywords: Polymer chemistry; Coatings.