A field note on modern B101-grade rutile TiO2: what actually matters

If you’ve been shopping around for B-series rutile pigments, you’ve likely bumped into Titanium Dioxide B101—a workhorse white that, in real-world production, behaves a lot like the well-known R-6628 coming out of Jindi Industrial Park, Dacheng County, Langfang City, Hebei Province. To be honest, what most buyers care about is simple: stable whiteness, easy dispersion, durable film performance, and predictable cost-in-use. This grade ticks those boxes more often than not.

Industry trends I keep seeing

Formulators want higher hiding at lower PVC, faster dispersion to cut cycle times, and coatings that hold color under nasty UV and humidity. In plastics, recyclate content is rising, so pigment must mask substrate variability. Meanwhile, procurement teams are asking for REACH-friendly, low-impurity, multi-purpose grades. Honestly, Titanium Dioxide B101 sits in that pragmatic middle ground—good enough for premium architectural and robust enough for general plastics and inks.

Technical snapshot (real-world use may vary)

This rutile pigment uses Zr/Al plus an organic post-treatment for weatherability and flow. Particle size distribution is intentionally tight to balance hiding with gloss—yes, that classic trade-off.

Process flow (simplified): selected ilmenite/rutile feedstock → sulfate/chloride conversion (site-dependent) → hydrolysis/oxidation → calcination → milling and classification → Zr/Al inorganic coating → organic treatment → QC (whiteness, tint strength, residue, dispersion) → packaging. Service life in exterior acrylics: around 5–8 years to first repaint in temperate climates, assuming sane formulation and film build.

Applications and usage notes

• Coatings: architectural exterior, industrial primers, wood coatings; 12–22% PVC typical.
• Plastics: masterbatch for PP/PE/PVC; watch for plate-out—organic treatment helps.
• Inks: solvent and water flexo; fast dispersion cuts let-down time.
• Rubber: consistent opacity without killing elongation—nice balance.

Vendor comparison (indicative)

Customization: surface-treatment balance can be tuned for faster wet-in (inks) or higher chalk resistance (exterior coatings). Packaging options typically include 25 kg bags and 1 t super sacks. Certifications usually available: ISO 9001/14001, REACH registration, and RoHS statements.

Case study: exterior paint in humid tropics

A mid-size SE Asian paint maker swapped their legacy rutile for Titanium Dioxide B101 in a 100% acrylic exterior matte. Dosage dropped by ≈6% with equal opacity; CIE L rose +0.6; scrub resistance improved 18% (ASTM D2486). Accelerated QUV (1,000 h, ASTM G154) showed ΔE 1.2 versus 1.8 for their control. They told me, “surprisingly, dispersion time fell by about 12 minutes per batch”—small change, big throughput.

Final checks I recommend: run ISO 7724 color, 60° gloss, hiding over black/white charts, viscosity stability at 40°C, and—if for plastic—yellowness index after multiple extrusions. It seems basic, but many customers say these quick screens save headaches later.

References

1. ISO 591-1:2020 Pigments — Titanium dioxide — Part 1: Requirements and classification.
2. ASTM D476-21 Standard Classification for Dry Pigmentary TiO2 Products.
3. ISO 16474 / ASTM G154: Accelerated weathering of coatings.
4. EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — TiO2 entries and guidance.
5. FDA 21 CFR 73.575 Titanium dioxide (color additive), where applicable.