What are the benefits of a white masterbatch without TiO2? Tosaf explains

At K2022, Tosaf will present a series of new white masterbatches with excellent properties in terms of whiteness, colour strength and opacity, which do not contain titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

The company is thus responding to an increasing number of customers inquiries, since regular white pigment is suspected of being carcinogenic when inhaled in powder form, and because the EU has banned it as a food colourant (E171). Although this decision by the EU does not yet ban the use of titanium dioxide as a pigment in polymers that come into contact with food, there is a growing demand among manufacturers of hard and soft packaging for the food industry, as well as parts of the toys and cosmetics industries, to move to TiO₂-free masterbatches in the future.

Such masterbatches have now been developed by Tosaf as cylindrical as well as spherical granules. They are the result of a study initiated by Tosaf Benelux R&D on ways to find alternatives for the white colouring of plastics. Although their formulation does not contain unbound titanium dioxide, their opacity as well as their colour strength is on the same high level as that of standard TiO₂ masterbatches at equal let down rate. The colour shade itself can be adjusted from yellowish to neutral to bluish. As this applies regardless of the carrier system, Tosaf's new patent-pending white masterbatches are compatible with any host polymer. The low abrasiveness allows for long tool life, and no plate-out occurs when processed on two-roll systems.

Michel Theunisz, General Manager of Tosaf Benelux, said: “With the development and launch of our new Non-TiO₂ white masterbatches, available in a wide range of polymer carrier systems, we are giving plastics processors and brand owners the answer to the dilemma they have when it comes to white coloration of plastics for food packaging, cosmetics packaging, medical packaging and toys, regardless the process and regardless the end application. Tosaf’s new white masterbatches allow the plastics market to proactively take action on reducing the use of TiO₂ in Plastics.”