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Applications · Plastics

TiO2 for PE / PP Films

Blown and cast film for packaging, agriculture, hygiene — low fish-eye, compatible with slip/antiblock packages.

White and opaque PE / PP films are made for packaging (snack bags, food liners, lamination film), agriculture (mulch film, greenhouse covers), hygiene (diaper backsheet), and shrink film applications. The TiO2 acts as both a white pigment and a UV barrier — agricultural mulch film, for example, depends on TiO2 to block UV from reaching the soil while reflecting visible light.

TiO2 selection for film must prioritize three properties: (1) dispersion quality — visible fish-eye defects directly degrade film appearance, (2) compatibility with slip/antiblock additive packages typically present in film grades, and (3) thermal stability across the blown-film bubble or cast-film line. SEMITI 996 and SEMITI 2310 are the workhorse grades. SEMITI 960 is recommended when HALS is in the formulation.

Recommended SEMITI grades

SEMITI 996
rutile · chloride
Universal Rutile

Our flagship chloride-process rutile — high tinting strength and broad compatibility for coatings, plastics, and inks.

SEMITI 960
rutile · chloride
High-Heat Masterbatch Rutile

High thermal stability for engineering plastics — extrusion to 300°C without yellowing.

SEMITI 2310
rutile · chloride
Universal Plastics Rutile

Universal plastics rutile — direct alternative to Kronos 2310 for PVC, PE, PP, ABS.

Performance requirements

Fish-eye count (50 μm film at 4% TiO2)< 5 defects per 100 cm²
Thermal stability (230°C / 5 min)Δb* < 1.0
Tinting strength retention after extrusionNo measurable loss
Slip / antiblock compatibilityNo phase separation or migration issues

Dosage guidance

White packaging film: 2–4% TiO2 in finished film (typically 50/50 or 60/40 MB at 4–8% letdown). Agricultural mulch film: 2–3% TiO2 + carbon black 1–2% (for soil heat retention). Greenhouse film: 0.5–1.5% TiO2 + UV stabilizer package.

Dispersion / processing notes

Blown film extrusion: standard single-screw extruder, 90–120 mm diameter, L/D 30. Film is extruded as a bubble through annular die at 200–230°C, cooled, and wound. For high TiO2 loading (>3%), watch for screen-pack blinding at 100+ mesh.

Formulation tips

  • →SEMITI 996 in standard PE blown film MB — 50% loading with calcium stearate + PE wax dispersant
  • →For agricultural film, layer in HALS (0.3–0.5%) + UV-326 absorber (0.05–0.1%) + SEMITI 960 (HALS-compatible) for 3–5 year outdoor service
  • →Verify slip agent (erucamide / oleamide) and antiblock (talc / synthetic silica) don't migrate to TiO2 surface — pre-blend test recommended
  • →For lamination film (BOPP / cast PP), use SEMITI 2310 — slightly higher tinting strength translates to thinner film at iso-opacity

Common pitfalls

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

  • ×Fish-eye defects from inadequate MB dispersion — visible immediately as transparent spots in white film
  • ×Using TiO2 with high moisture (>0.5%) — causes bubble defects in blown film and porosity in cast
  • ×Migrating slip agent forming streaks on the film — verify slip / TiO2 compatibility before scaling

Common questions

Why does my white PE bag film show streaks?+
Most common cause: poor MB dispersion. Run a smaller die screen pack (200+ mesh) to verify; if streaks persist, the MB itself has agglomerates and needs reformulation (higher dispersant level, better surface treatment match).
Can SEMITI 996 work in BOPP cast film?+
Yes for general-purpose. For premium BOPP (high-clarity, high-stiffness), SEMITI 2310 has marginally tighter PSD for better optics. Test in production conditions.

Need help picking a grade for pe / pp films?

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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