It gives that brilliant white color in so many items used daily – paints, plastics, paper, foods, toothpaste, and other applications – yet hardly anyone talks or thinks about the amazing value of rutile in everyday life.
Natural rutile is a titanium mineral found in the earth’s crust with a high-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) content ranging from 92%-95%. In contrast, synthetic rutile and titanium slag are man-made, high-grade TiO2 products produced from the upgrading of ilmenite (another titanium mineral, with a typical TiO2 content ranging from 45%-65%). Synthetic rutile and titanium slag have TiO2 contents ranging from 80%-95%.