White powder

Thanks to its rheological and optical properties, Lithopone offers both technical and economic advantages wherever organic and inorganic binder systems require a relatively high pigmentation for specific applications.

Le lithopone est produit par coprécipitation de sulfure de baryum et de sulfate de zinc, le plus souvent en proportions équimolaires, puis grillage de la pulpe résultante⁴.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted in a sample of vitaminB2@P25TiO₂NPs using a TA-THA Q5000 equipment. Temperature ramp rate: 10 °C/min, maximum temperature: 1000 °C, under air. Part of the same sample was mounted on conductive copper tape grids and observed through a Carl Zeiss Sigma scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an EDS probe, at the “Laboratorio de Microscopía y Análisis por Rayos X” (LAMARX) of National University of Córdoba (Argentina).

Additionally, market demand plays a significant role in determining lithopone pigment prices. Industries such as construction, automotive, and consumer goods have been experiencing fluctuations in demand, influencing the pricing dynamics. In periods of high demand, prices may increase as suppliers adjust to the market trends. Conversely, during downturns or oversupply situations, prices may decrease, providing opportunities for buyers to purchase at more favorable rates.

The principal natural source of titanium dioxide is mined ilmenite ore, which contains 45-60 percent TiO₂. From this, or an enriched derivative (known as titanium slag), pure TiO₂ can be produced using the sulphate or chloride process.

Although barium sulfate is almost completely inert, zinc sulfide degrades upon exposure to UV light, leading to darkening of the pigment. The severity of this UV reaction is dependent on a combination of two factors; how much zinc sulfide makes up the pigments formulation, and its total accumulated UV exposure. Depending on these factors Lithopone B301, Lithopone B311 powder itself may vary in shade over time, ranging from pure white all the way to grey or even black. To suppress this effect, a dopant might be used, like small amount of cobalt salts, which would be added to the formulation. This process creates cobalt-doped zinc sulfide. The cobalt salts help to stabilize zinc sulfide so it will not have as severe a reaction to UV exposure.

CSPI’s Chemical Cuisine is the web’s definitive rating of the chemicals used to preserve foods and affect their taste, texture, or appearance. Besides titanium dioxide, the group recommends avoiding artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, as well as synthetic food dyes like Yellow 5 and Red 3. CSPI and others have recently asked the Food and Drug Administration to ban the latter dye in foods and ingested drugs because the FDA has already determined that it is a carcinogen unsafe for use in cosmetics.