opacity and UV protection. “Titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation, thereby protecting and extending a product’s lifetime. It delivers efficient whiteness and brightness for excellent hiding power,”
said BC Chong, president of DuPont Titanium Technologies.
Like carbon black, demand for titanium dioxide was down
this year. “The titanium dioxide market demand is down this
year, but we expect a recovery in 2013 and we remain confident
in our titanium dioxide outlook for the longer term,” said Chong.
“Titanium dioxide demand is expected to grow with GDP and
DuPont, the most innovative titanium dioxide company, will
benefit from this growth. In addition, our significant new capac-
ity expansion will allow us to grow with our customers.”
According to Frank Lavieri, executive vice president and gen-
eral manager at Lansco Colors, the demand for white pigments
has grown substantially over the last year such that it has out-
stripped supply for a time. “Supply and demand has been more
balanced now but during the previous year Lansco Colors’ sales
of white pigments increased substantially,” he said. “We are find-
ing more and more customers are being careful to use the best
value titanium dioxide for each application, whereas in the past
they may have been more inclined to use only one higher per-
formance grade. The best value grade is the one which meets all
of the requirements for the application at the lowest cost and,
importantly, is not over engineered.”
Both carbon black and white pigment manufacturers have
launched a number of new products. For the coatings market
Emerald Hitlon Davis offers zero VOC, formaldehyde-free, APE-
free – Verdis dispersion products.
“This is a full line of colorants including carbon black dis-
persion that offers high quality colors for in-plant tinting,” said
Erbeck. “Emerald also offers a new line energy cure colorants,
called Lucida Colors. Lucida Colors ECF is a full line of high
performance pigment and trans-oxide color products to meet the
needs in the emerging energy cure coatings market. Emerald
Hilton Davis also offers a wide range of specialty water-based
black dispersions.”
Cabot recently launched Emperor 1800, a high color carbon
black designed for ease of dispersion in water-based systems.
“The product is designed to be used in automotive and other
high-end applications,” said Preneta. “Cabot also has a complete
line of resistive carbon blacks use in display applications, the
TPK series of carbon blacks. These materials enable higher res-
olution displays and next generation touch panel architectures.
Cabot also has a number of products coming later in 2012.”
DuPont Titanium Technologies has been delivering Ti-Pure
products to the coatings industry for more than 80 years.
“Our offering developments begins with the needs of the
world’s leading coatings customers,” said Chong. “Our research
in titanium dioxide is focused on delivering leading opacity so-
lutions and maximizing our customers’ cost efficiency to ensure
performance and competitiveness in the markets they serve.”
DuPont Titanium Technologies has also announced a global ex-
pansion that will add 350,000 metric tons of capacity at its Al-
tamira, Mexico site and several other site of its sites around the
world. “The new line at the Altamire site is scheduled for comple-
tion by 2015,” added Chong. “This expansion effort is an integral
piece of the business’ global strategy to help customers grow.”
German-based TiO2 producer Sachtleben Chemie recently
took over crenox, another German TiO2 producer. It was placed
in administration three years ago when Tronox, its U.S.-based
parent, filed for Chapter 11bankruptcy protection.
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