Titanium Dioxide Pigment

Rutile is a naturally occurring form of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a white, opaque, crystalline solid with a high refractive index, used as a pigment in paints, plastics, paper, and cosmetics. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown of rutile titanium dioxide:

Properties:

Chemical Formula: TiO₂

Appearance: White, opaque, crystalline solid

Crystal Structure: Rutile (a specific type of crystal structure)

Refractive Index: High, making it useful for optical elements

Birefringence: Exhibits a particularly large birefringence and high dispersion

Solubility: Insoluble in water and organic solvents, but soluble in hot concentrates, sulfuric acid, and hydrofluoric acids

Density: 4.23 g/cm³

Melting Point: 1843°C

Boiling Point: 2972°C 

Uses:

Pigment: Widely used as a white pigment in paints, plastics, paper, cosmetics, and other applications 

Optical Elements: Used in the manufacture of certain optical elements, especially polarization optics 

Ceramics: Can be used as a component in low-temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) 

Composites: Used as a filler in organic-inorganic composites 

Photocatalyst: Au/rutileTiO2 can be used as a photocatalyst for selective aerobic oxidation of amines to corresponding imines 

Welding Electrode Covering: Rutile is widely used as a welding electrode covering 

Steels and Copper Alloys: Used in making some steels and copper alloys 

Natural Occurrence:

Titanium dioxide occurs naturally as the minerals rutile and anatase

Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO₂ 

Production:

Rutile titanium dioxide can be produced by the chloride process or the sulfate process

Both processes produce titanium dioxide pigment in the rutile crystal form, but the sulfate process can be adjusted to produce the anatase form