Uses of titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide delivers exceptional whiteness, brightness, opacity, and UV protection, enabling durable, high-performance products and making it indispensable across everyday applications and critical industrial uses.
Industrial and consumer applications of TiO2
Construction and infrastructure
Titanium dioxide helps buildings and infrastructure stay bright, protected, and durable for years. It strengthens paints, coatings, sealants and cement-based materials so façades resist weather, UV exposure, pollution and corrosion—reducing maintenance cycles and preserving the appearance and integrity of structures over time.
Medicines
In pharmaceuticals, TiO₂ supports safe and reliable treatments. It helps protect sensitive ingredients from light, ensures tablets and capsules are clearly identifiable, and contributes to consistent quality throughout a medicine’s shelf life, so patients receive treatments that remain stable and effective.
Medical devices
TiO₂ contributes to the performance and safety of a range of medical devices by enhancing visibility, stability, and surface properties required for high‑precision, long‑term use.
Energy
TiO₂ is used in energy‑related applications such as solar technologies and batteries thanks to its photocatalytic properties and long‑term stability
Transport
In transport applications, TiO₂ supports durability, performance and innovation. It strengthens high-performance coatings that protect vehicles from corrosion and environmental stress, contributes to advanced materials used in automotive and aviation sectors, and supports emerging battery and mobility technologies.
Packaging
In packaging, TiO₂ improves both protection and presentation. It enhances the durability and appearance of plastics and paper while helping shield light-sensitive products such as dairy, beverages and pharmaceuticals.
Food contact
In food packaging materials such as plastics, paper and ceramics, TiO₂ helps maintain product quality. By limiting light exposure, it protects foods from degradation during storage and retail display contributing to reduced food waste and consistent product standards.
Personal care
In personal care products, titanium dioxide supports product stability, visual consistency and consumer confidence. It contributes to uniform colour and texture in items such as toothpaste and lotions, and in sunscreens it acts as a mineral UV filter that helps protect skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Cosmetics
In cosmetics, titanium dioxide delivers smooth, even coverage and enhances colour intensity. It helps create long-lasting, high-quality formulations that look consistent, feel comfortable on the skin and perform reliably throughout the day.
Textiles
In fibres and textiles, TiO₂ enhances brightness and uniformity while helping materials maintain their appearance under sunlight. It contributes to colour consistency, improved durability and better resistance to environmental wear in clothing, furnishings and technical fabrics.
Innovative uses
Beyond traditional applications, TiO₂ enables cutting-edge technologies. It plays a role in self-cleaning materials, air-purifying surfaces, catalytic systems and advanced optical coatings, supporting solutions that combine durability with environmental performance.
TiO2 in nanoform
TiO2 is often associated with nanomaterials, although less than 2% of TiO₂ on the market meets the European Union’s recommended definition of a nanomaterial is having 50% or more of particles less than 100 nm by number. The small constituent particle size and special properties of TiO2 nanoforms gives them unique characteristics that play an important and innovative role in a range of mostly industrial applications.
The largest historical use of TiO2 nanoforms is as a critical element in industrial emission control catalysts to improve air quality by controlling these emissions at source. Other useful innovations include use as a UV filter, solar energy technologies and improving the efficiency of lithium batteries in terms of both their capacity and lifetime. Europe is currently the world leader in exporting TiO2 nanoforms products across the globe for innovative solutions, often in the areas of sustainability.