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Why is titanium dioxide the most widely used white pigment?

Titanium dioxide is the principal white pigment used throughout the world not only because it is the whitest known pigment, but it is unrivaled in opacity (the opposite of transparency), stain resistance, and durability. It is also nontoxic. The industries that consume the bulk (60 to 70 percent) of titanium dioxide are paint, printing inks, plastics, and ceramics.

Sources: Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th ed., vol. 23, p. 143; Morgans, W. M. Outlines of Paint Technology, p. 52; The Timetable of Technology, p. 28.

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