QUALICOAT UK & IRELAND
Titanium Dioxide - The Facts
Powder coatings that contain more that 1 % titanium dioxide will have to carry new warning labelling due to a change in classification . The new labelling requirements will be implemented by powder manufacturers by October this year , but what does this mean for applicators of powder coatings ?
Titanium dioxide ( TiO2 ) is a naturally occurring mineral used as a bright white pigment in powders used for architectural powder coating . It generally exists in three phases : anatase , brookite , and rutile , the rutile phase is primarily used in pigments for powder coating . Only 5 % of the 2,328 colour shades of the RAL system are produced without titanium dioxide , which equates to approximately 119 pigments , so TiO2 must continue to be used for certain colour formulations in powder coating .
Back in March 2020 the EU designated that titanium dioxide is a category two , suspected carcinogen by inhalation , under the CLP ( Classification , Labelling and Packaging ) Regulation EC No . 1272 / 2008 . The new hazard classification is for titanium dioxide in powder form and powder mixtures containing more than 1 % titanium dioxide particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 micrometers . Completed coatings which contain 1 % or more titanium dioxide must also carry a hazard statement warning under EUH 212 “ Warning ! Hazardous respirable dust may be formed when used . Do not breathe dust .”
To determine the extent of the issue , powder manufacturers have undertaken independent scientific research carried out by an independent , recognised institute on
standard ground and ultra-fine ground powders . The study included reviewing the titanium dioxide-containing waste , as generated in the production and processing of the powder coatings . The aerodynamic diameter was determined using the “ rotating drum method ” ( DIN EN 15051-2 ), which is recognised by the European Chemicals Agency ( ECHA ).
The results of these independent tests show that the investigated powder coated products and their waste do not contain more than 1 % by weight of titanium dioxide with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm . Even with the most finely grained powders in production waste , only 0.0081 % titanium dioxide particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm was measured . This is about 120 times less than the limit value of 1 % that will apply from October 2021 . Based on these findings , powder coated products containing titanium dioxide do not meet the criteria for classification for mandatory labelling as laid down in the CLP Regulation .
Powder coated products which contain 1 % or more titanium dioxide , must still be labelled with the above mentioned EUH phrase 212 “ Warning ! Hazardous respirable dust may be formed when used . Do not breathe dust .”
QUALICOAT members are being advised to offer clear labelling on all products immediately to make customers aware of the classification and what additional health & safety precautions they need to put in place .
The next QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members meeting takes place online in June , please contact the General Secretary , Jan Lukaszewski , via the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website , should you wish to attend . For details on the availability of various colours and finishes contact any QUALICOAT UK & Ireland member for more information . For updated information about the use and specification of QUALICOAT in the UK and Ireland , please visit the UK & Ireland Association website at www . qualicoatuki . org
4 JUNE 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag