Titanium White Pigment

Description

Titanium Dioxide (Rutile) is a created single pigment created through a chemical refinement process to produce an ultra bright, highly stable and covering white. This pigment is prized for its superior opacity, light scattering properties, and long term durability. Compared to other white pigments, it offers exceptional coverage, greater resistance to UV degradation, and minimal yellowing over time.

Titanium White has exceptional lightfastness, making it highly durable for both classical and contemporary artwork. It blends seamlessly with other pigments, offering clean, bright highlights and strong mixing properties. Its high opacity allows for superior coverage in oil, watercolor, and tempera applications. Unlike older white pigments such as Lead White or Zinc White, it is less toxic and does not darken over time, making it an ideal choice for artists.

History

White pigments have played a crucial role in art and industry for centuries, with early civilizations using naturally occurring chalks and lead based whites for painting and decoration.

During antiquity and the Renaissance, artists primarily used Lead White, a highly opaque but toxic pigment. It was essential for oil painting, manuscript illumination, and architectural applications but posed serious health risks.

By the 19th and early 20th centuries, concerns over lead toxicity led to the search for safer alternatives. Zinc White was introduced as a non-toxic replacement but lacked the opacity and durability of Lead White.

In 1916, Titanium Dioxide was first synthesized as a pigment, quickly surpassing all previous white pigments in performance. The rutile form, developed in the 1930s, proved to be the most durable and stable, resisting chalking and yellowing far better than earlier alternatives.

Today, Titanium White is the industry standard for white pigments, used in fine art, industrial coatings, plastics, cosmetics, and more. Its exceptional opacity, lightfastness, and safety have made it an irreplaceable pigment for artists and manufacturers worldwide. In the pictured artwork 'Poppy Tree' by Norval Morrisseau, Titanium White is used in the blue background to create the beautiful blue tint.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic (Titanium Dioxide) from minerals (Rutile - TiO₂)
Source: Titanium dioxide (rutile form)
Origin: USA
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Opaque
Other Names: Titanium Dioxide, Rutile White, Permanent White
Color Index Code: PW6
Image: 'Poppy Tree' by Norval Morrisseau from the Glenbow Museum

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.

WARNING: This product can expose you to titanium dioxide (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.