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Applications · Paper

TiO2 for Paper Laminate & Decor Paper

Decor paper for furniture and flooring laminates — high opacity at 30–40% loading, retention-aid compatible.

Decor and laminate paper — used in kitchen cabinets, furniture overlays, flooring, and HPL (high-pressure laminates) — is one of the most TiO2-intensive applications globally. The paper acts as a print substrate that hides the underlying particle board or MDF; full opacity requires 25–40% TiO2 loading on dry paper weight.

SEMITI PAPER-D rutile is the workhorse for high-opacity decor paper. SEMITI A101 anatase is the more economical choice when 6–10% loading is sufficient (some specialty papers).

Recommended SEMITI grades

SEMITI PAPER-D
rutile · chloride
Decor Paper Rutile

Decor / laminate paper grade — high opacity at 30–35% loading, retention-aid compatible.

SEMITI A101
anatase · sulfate
Paper Laminate Anatase

Anatase optimized for decor and laminate paper — finer particle size, high opacity at low loading.

Performance requirements

Opacity (60 GSM paper, 30% TiO2)≥ 95% (TAPPI T425)
Retention rate (first-pass)≥ 85% with cationic PAM
Brightness (CIE WI)≥ 85
Calender roll wearNo abrasion of polished rolls at 5000 m running

Dosage guidance

Decor paper (kitchen cabinet, furniture overlay): 25–35% TiO2 on dry paper. HPL overlay paper: 30–40%. Floor decor paper: 30–40%. General coated paper (printing-grade): 8–15% (use SEMITI A100). Newsprint and packaging: 1–5% (use sulfate rutile or anatase).

Dispersion / processing notes

Paper TiO2 is added at the wet end (with the fiber furnish before forming) or in the coating slip (for coated grades). For wet-end addition, pre-disperse TiO2 in water with retention aid at high shear (Cowles disk) for 5–10 min, then add to the headbox. For coating slips, integrate TiO2 with starch / binder system in the coating prep tank.

Formulation tips

  • →SEMITI PAPER-D for high-opacity decor (25%+ loading); SEMITI A101 for moderate-opacity (6–12%)
  • →Pair with cationic PAM retention aid (0.2–0.4 kg/t paper) for 85%+ first-pass retention
  • →For HPL overlay paper, verify resin uptake (melamine impregnation) is consistent — high TiO2 can affect resin pickup
  • →Brightness > 85 (CIE WI) requires chloride rutile (PAPER-D) — sulfate or anatase typically falls 1–3 units lower

Common pitfalls

Failure modes we've seen in customer trials — worth checking before scale-up.

  • ×Inadequate retention at high TiO2 loading — pigment passes through to white water, increases cost and effluent treatment burden
  • ×Mixing TiO2 grades — opacity inconsistency in finished paper
  • ×Coarse TiO2 (D90 > 1 μm) in paper machine — causes felt fouling and downtime

Common questions

Why is decor paper TiO2 loading so high vs printing paper?+
Decor paper hides a colored substrate (brown particle board, gray MDF) and provides the print background. Full opacity at thin paper weight (60 GSM) requires 25–35% TiO2. Standard printing paper just needs opacity for print show-through, achievable at 8–12% with anatase.
Can SEMITI PAPER-D be used in food packaging paper?+
Yes for indirect food contact (cartons, leaflets, blister card). Pb < 5 ppm and Cd < 1 ppm meet USP/EP/pharmacopeia limits. For direct food contact (rare for paper), request food-grade variant.

Need help picking a grade for paper laminate & decor paper?

Send us your reference grade, formulation type, or competitor TDS. We'll respond with the SEMITI match + sample within 48 hours.

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