Synthesis, characterization and application of TiO2 nanopowders as special paper coating pigment

TiO2 nanopigments in two pure crystallographic forms (anatase and rutile) have been synthesized successfully by two methods; hydrothermal and hydrolysis. The produced pigments from the two methods were investigated physicochemically by several analyses tools. Then they were applied in paper coating mixtures and their influence on coated paper properties was systematically investigated. XRD and FTIR investigations showed that the prepared pigments using hydrothermal method at 100 and 120 °C were a mixture of anatase and brookite and pure anatase, respectively, whereas hydrolysis method produced pure rutile phase pigment. TEM investigation showed that the crystallite size of anatase, mixture of anatase and brookite and rutile samples are 6.2, 11.7, and 9.2 nm, respectively. BET studies proved that anatase pigment has 140.74 m2/g, 0.237 cc/g and 18.33 , whereas rutile has 60.621 m2/g, 0.122 cc/g and 14.669 , surface area, pore volume and pore diameter, respectively. UV–Vis absorption and PL emission characteristics of the prepared pigments showed that the energy gaps for anatase, mixture of anatase and brookite and rutile are 3.36, 3.30 and 3.37 eV, respectively. The addition of the prepared nanopigments in conjugation with clay in coating mixture increased both brightness and opacity of the coated papers. The greatest effect was obtained upon using rutile nanopigment. Also there was a significant decrease in coated paper roughness while the air permeance started to decrease then increased at 50 % addition levels. In all coated paper, rutile pigment showed the highest enhancement effect on coated paper properties.