11/3/2009 - Titanium dioxide industry

Titanium dioxide pigment (TiO₂) is a white powder with high opacity, brilliant whiteness, excellent covering power and resistance to colour change. These properties have made it a valuable pigment and opacifier for a broad range of applications in paints, plastic goods, inks and paper.

The pigment is manufactured by processing naturally occurring the titanium-containing rutile or ilmenite minerals. Rutile is an impure form of titanium dioxide whereas ilmenite contains titanium combined with iron as a compound oxide. Though common throughout the world, they are most readily exploited in Australia, USA, India and South Africa.

In Australia nearly all titanium dioxide is produced from ilmenite as it naturally occurs in accessible high concentrations and in a form which allows the ready extraction of the rutile. These favourable factors have made ilmenite a competitive raw material for Australia's producers reflected in high export activity.

Low energy cost regions use the slagging process. 

Australia supplies about 40 per cent of the world's ilmenite and about 25 per cent of its rutile. In contrast to its dominance in titanium minerals, Australia supplies only about a 3 per cent share of the world's titanium dioxide pigment production of around 4 million tonnes. This imbalance implies significant opportunity for adding further value.

In 1995, Western Australia produced 160 000 tonnes of titanium dioxide pigment valued at around $350 million.

By June 1998, Australia is anticipated to export A$1.1 bn of titanium minerals of which two-thirds is exported to Europe and North America.