Rutile TiO2 “298” grade: on-the-ground notes from buyers and plants

If you’ve been hunting for a dependable plastics-grade rutile pigment, you’ve probably heard people casually say “298.” They mean a high-whiteness, surface-treated rutile—good gloss, easy dispersion. Here’s what I’m seeing lately, with a specific look at titanium dioxide 298 from Jindi Industrial Park, Dacheng County, Langfang, Hebei. To be honest, demand is steady in polyolefins and PVC profiles, and recyclers (surprisingly) are now asking for bluer undertone to mask yellowing in rPP and rPE.

Industry snapshot

Trends? A few: tighter specs on volatile content for low-VOC molding shops, more requests for food-contact clarifications (especially for cosmetics and packaging inks), and a quiet shift from anatase to rutile in ABS and PS for better weatherability. Many customers say they want “plug-and-play” dispersion—less time on twin-screws, lower torque, fewer gels. Fair ask.

What the product is (and isn’t)

titanium dioxide 298 is a sulfate-process rutile-grade TiO2 tuned for plastics (LDPE, PP, PVC, ABS, PS), inks, rubber, and even certain cosmetics where permitted. It’s typically alumina/silica surface-treated with a small organic finish for dispersion. In fact, it can be dosed straight into resin, used in liquid plastisol, or compounded into masterbatch first—whichever keeps your line sane.

Process flow & QC (practical view)

• Materials: ilmenite or slag → digestion → hydrolysis → calcination → milling → alumina/silica treatment → organic finish → packing (25 kg bags or ≈1,000 kg big bags).
• Methods: dry blend or masterbatch; for inks/cosmetics, wet bead-milling and high-shear dispersion.
• Testing: gloss ISO 2813, hiding power ISO 6504, ΔE in QUV (ASTM G154), residue, oil absorption, and filtration pressure value for films.
• Service life: indoor plastics 10–20 years; outdoor PVC profiles typically 5–10 years, depending on stabilizers and loadings—real-world use may vary.
• Industries: plastics (LDPE, PP, PVC, ABS, PS), rubber goods, printing inks, and certain cosmetics where grade compliance allows.

Where it’s used (quick hits)

Film blowing (low haze, blue tone), injection-molded appliances, PVC window profiles and pipe, cable jacketing, ABS casings, PS sheet, and yes—compact powders or creams when a non-nano, compliant spec is provided.

Customization, test data, and real use

CQ can tailor alumina/silica ratios for blue undertone or higher gloss, adjust organic finish for masterbatch flow, and offer FPV-optimized grades for film. In lab QUV (ASTM G154, 340 nm), ΔE after 1,000 h came in around 1.6–1.9 in PVC plaque; in xenon arc (ISO 16474-2, 1,500 h), acrylic topcoat gloss retention was ≈88%. I guess your stabilizer package still matters a lot.

Two quick case notes

• Eastern Europe, PVC profiles: switching to titanium dioxide 298 allowed a 3% dosage reduction while keeping L ≥96.5; YI improved ≈8% vs. previous anatase blend.
• South China, LDPE film: masterbatch with titanium dioxide 298 cut haze from ≈9.1% to 7.8% (ASTM D1003) at equal TiO2 loading; extruder amps dropped slightly—operators were pleased.

Buyer tips

• Ask for FPV and 325-mesh residue data if you’re blowing film.
• Check REACH and food-contact letters if cosmetics/packaging is in scope.
• For recycled polymers, a bluer b helps—request undertone tuning.

Origin matters too: this grade ships from Hebei’s Jindi Industrial Park, which, in my experience, has consistent logistics. Lead times are decent, and the packaging is tidy—no dust plumes on opening, which shop floor folks appreciate.

References

1. ISO 591-1:2016 Pigments—TiO2—Specifications and methods.
2. ASTM D476-20 Standard Classification for Dry Pigmentary TiO2 Products.
3. ISO 787 series (pH, oil absorption, residue, etc.), various parts.
4. EU REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006—Substance registration and safety.
5. ISO 16474 and ASTM G154—Artificial weathering test methods.