The Difference Between Anatase Type and Rutile Type Titanium Dioxide, and Which Has a Smoother Texture?

Anatase type and rutile type titanium dioxide are actually two different crystal forms of titanium dioxide. There are three crystal forms of titanium dioxide in nature: anatase, rutile, and brookite. Among them, brookite is highly unstable and has little industrial value. The widely used forms are anatase and rutile crystals. Of the three crystal phases, rutile is the most stable, while anatase and brookite undergo irreversible exothermic reactions during heating and eventually transform into rutile crystals.

The main differences between anatase type and rutile type titanium dioxide are:

1. Crystal structure: The crystal structures of anatase and rutile consist of interconnected TiO2 octahedra, but the difference lies in the degree of distortion of the octahedra and the way they are interconnected.
2. Uses: Rutile type titanium dioxide has better weather resistance, gloss retention, and tinting strength compared to anatase type titanium dioxide. This is because the surface of pure anatase titanium dioxide particles contains water and oxygen, which make its chemical properties highly reactive over time. To change its application characteristics, it must first be stabilized against light-induced changes. Due to the higher price of rutile type titanium dioxide, it is often used in high-end products. It is also commonly used in the production of coatings, inks, plastic paints, and high-quality decorative prints. Anatase type titanium dioxide, being less expensive than rutile type, is more commonly used in the production of plastics, inks, mass-market prints, and coatings.
3. Rutile type titanium dioxide has a smoother texture due to its coating.