Hello everybody
For those interested
To speak of catalytic TiO2 add to the road surface. The process is relatively well kept because of the competition. I can say one thing, it is that a good part of this TiO2, called revolutionary, is well manufactured in France. Currently, a good part of it comes from the Thann factory located in Alsace.
Thann is still one of the rare factories which produces TiO2 by the Sulfate route, that is to say that it attacks its raw material "ilmenite" with sulfuric acid which will be found throughout the synthesis chain. It is also the only process which makes it possible to manufacture these grades of TiO2, but it is also one of the most complicated and
more expensive.
Some coat this form of titanium on the windows of buildings, they are said to be self-cleaning (with UV from the sun, they oxidize organic soiling thanks to the TiO2 which they contain and which are then leached by the rains) Ditto for paints and plasters.
Others fix it on a special paper which will serve as an odor filter in subways, toilets etc (UV lamp)
Future catamarans. cars will not escape it.
Pavers in town and swimming pool copings…
I can tell you that they are not pigmented and calcined at ~ 1100 ° C like TiO2 (titanium dioxide) which is found everywhere (paint; rubber… and even drugs) but either atomized (= dried) or calcined at temperatures between 300 and 700 ° C (more or less specific surface area between 40 and 280 m2 / gram compared to 4 to 7 m2 / g for the pigmentary). Some are pure, but most of them are doped with various salts depending on their future catalytic uses.