Calcination intensity on rutile white pigment production via short sulfate process

Abstract The rutile titanium dioxide pigment was produced via short sulfate process from unenriched industrial titanyl sulfate solution as raw material. The effects of calcination intensity after crystal transformation on the crystal structure, particle size distribution and pigment performances were investigated. The samples were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, SEM, particle size distribution test and pigment properties test. The crystal grain size and content for rutile pigment gradually grew as the calcination intensity increasing, with a positive linear correlation. While the blue phase index is negative linear correlation with calcination time. The optimized calcining time at 860 °C for rutile pigment production is of 40 min, corresponding calcination intensity of 1,34,277 K min, and the as-prepared rutile pigment is with the grain size of 110.8 nm, rutile content of 98.3%, suitable and narrow particle size distribution, and the best pigment performances.