Which TiO2 grade is best for exterior coatings?
A practical specification and trial framework for architectural, industrial and protective coatings exposed to sunlight, moisture, heat and pollution.
Start with R868 — then prove exterior performance in the complete coating.
The Jinan Yuxing R868 TDS positions the grade for high-performance coatings and documents Zr/Al inorganic surface treatment plus organic treatment. It is therefore the first TiO2 Source grade to evaluate for exposed architectural and industrial coatings. The TDS alone does not prove a coating warranty: final approval requires weathering, chalking, gloss and colour-retention tests in the actual binder and pigment volume concentration.
Match the grade to the exposure and finish.
| Coating system | Starting grade | Critical approval checks |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior architectural, standard exposure | R868 | Hiding, tint strength, wet/dry colour, chalking, gloss/colour retention and viscosity. |
| High-end exterior or industrial finish | R868, then a separately documented alternative if required | Accelerated and natural weathering, gloss, colour change, dispersion and corrosion-system compatibility. |
| General architectural/interior-exterior range | R838 after exposure validation | Confirm the exterior warranty target; do not transfer interior data to outdoor claims. |
| Flat, high-PVC exterior paint | Durable rutile selected for the formulation | Film integrity, porosity, chalking and hiding at the target PVC/CPVC relationship. |
| Interior-only paint | R818/R838; anatase only where appropriate | Hiding, colour, scrub, dispersion and cost; outdoor durability is not the main driver. |
What the pigment COA can and cannot prove.
COA-controlled pigment data
- TiO2 content and rutile conversion.
- Moisture/volatiles, pH and sieve residue.
- Oil absorption, tint strength, undertone and resistivity where specified.
- Surface-treatment declaration and lot traceability.
Formulation-controlled results
- Actual hiding at the target PVC.
- Gloss development and retention.
- Chalking, colour change and film durability.
- Viscosity, dispersion, cure and compatibility with binder/additives.
Buyer rule: a high TiO2 percentage is not a durability guarantee. Exterior performance depends on crystal form, photostability, surface treatment, particle distribution, dispersion and the full coating film.
Exterior-grade trial plan
- Record the incumbent grade, formula, PVC, dispersant package and production energy.
- Make equal-volume or equal-mass comparisons and document any dispersant adjustment.
- Measure fineness of grind, viscosity, hiding, tint strength, undertone and gloss.
- Test accelerated weathering under the method required by the customer's market; retain a natural-exposure panel when the warranty risk is material.
- Review total formulation cost and failure risk before changing supplier.
RFQ data that improves grade matching
State waterborne or solvent-borne system, binder, PVC, target gloss, colour/tint, exposure climate, durability or warranty target, current TiO2 grade and dosage, test method, packaging, volume, destination and Incoterm.
Coatings-industry sources.
Professional source on rutile refractive index, pigment particle size, dispersion, hiding, gloss and exterior durability.
Explains rutile selection and how alumina, silica, zirconia, organic treatment and milling affect durability and gloss.
Producer technical guide covering coating quality-control tests including dispersion, colour, pH/resistance and oil absorption.
Exterior coatings questions.
Is rutile always required for exterior paint?
Rutile is the normal starting crystal form for weatherability. The final pigment and coating still need exposure testing because surface treatment and film formulation control durability.
Should I choose R868 or R878?
Start with R868 for exterior-coating qualification because its TDS positions it for high-performance coatings and documents Zr/Al treatment. R878 is positioned by its TDS for plastics, masterbatch, flexible PVC and rubber, not as the default exterior-coating grade.
Can R838 be used outside?
R838 lists coatings in its universal application range, but exterior use should be approved against the exact warranty and exposure target. Use R868 as the documented starting point for demanding exposure.
Which documents come with a trial?
Request the current TDS and SDS before the trial; the commercial lot should ship with a batch COA against the agreed specification.
Match a rutile grade to your exterior coating.
Send the binder, PVC, target gloss, exposure, incumbent grade, annual volume and destination.
Compare the five verified TiO₂ grade specifications.
Review crystal form, TiO₂ content, surface treatment, oil absorption, pH, tinting-method boundaries and manufacturer-listed applications in one evidence-aligned matrix.