Rutile Titanium Dioxide

Rutile is a mineral which is composed primarily of titanium dioxide and is the most common natural form of titanium dioxide. Two other rare forms are anatase and brookite. It is among the highest refractive indices of any known mineral and also shows high dispersion. Natural rutile may contain up to 10% iron as well as significant amounts of tantalum and niobium. The word rutile comes from the name rutilus which is Latin for red. It is extracted by mining, then separated from other present minerals such as zircon and ilmenite. The main use of rutile is for the manufacture of refractory ceramic, as a pigment and for the production of titanium. When finely powdered it is a brilliant white pigment and can be used for paints, plastics, food, paper and many other applications that require a bright white colour. Nanoscale particles of rutile are transparent to visible light but are extremely effective in the absorption of ultraviolet radiation. The UV absorption of nano-sized rutile particles is blue-shifted when compared to bulk rutile so that the higher energy UV light is absorbed by the nanoparticles. For this reason they are used effectively for the protection against skin damage.