Customer explanation for Titanium Dioxide

[gsc]

Listed titanium dioxide on my label. I was stumped when asked just exactly what titanium dioxide was. I know it's a pigment, but can anyone else add to the description?

 

[toxikon]

Well, it's a mineral colourant.

From Wikipedia: "Titanium dioxide accounts for 70% of the total production volume of pigments worldwide. It is widely used to provide whiteness and opacity to products such as paints, plastics, papers, inks, foods, and toothpastes. It is also used in cosmetic and skin care products, and it is present in almost every sunblock, where it helps protect the skin from ultraviolet light."

I'd focus on the fact that it's used in cosmetics, sunblocks, toothpastes, foods, etc. That might ease people's concerns over its safety.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

This is why a seller should know as much as they can about soaping and their ingredients. If I asked a question to someone who made a product then I would expect that they can answer it, especially when it's about an ingredient.

 

[MorpheusPA]

It's used in cake icing to whiten it, and in other food items as an anti-caking agent. UV sensitive foods use it as a preservative to lower light damage.

While some reports of issues using nano-particles have been reported, food and cosmetic uses don't seem to contain nano-particles.

 

[psfred]

Titanium dioxide is exactly that, an oxide of the metal titanium, supplied as a very bright white pigment. Superfine particles of metal oxide.

It's very inert (not reactive) and I believe does not dissolve in stomach acid (would have to check that, but if it's used in food, likely not). Non-toxic.

 

[SaltedFig]

It's titanium rust

Titanium is a metal that is also used in the manufacture of prosthetic implants ... this article is a 3D printed jaw made for a fella here a couple of years ago: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-...es-titanium-3d-printed-prosthetic-jaw/6536788

Titanium works really well for a number of reasons, but one of them is that the "rust" forms a thin, very strong, barrier that is almost completely impervious to most chemical reactions in the body (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_biocompatibility).

 

[Obsidian]

Titanium rust, now I never though of it like that but what a great explanation. Maybe not the best thing to tell a customer lol but its helped me.
Since titanium is so resistive, I wonder what compound makes it rust? Off to google I go. That was quick, this is interesting.
https://titaniumprocessingcenter.com/does-titanium-rust/