Effect of substrate on the phase transformation of TiO2 in pearlescent pigment

The TiO₂/substrate pearlescent pigments were prepared by the hydrolysis of TiOCl₂ on the substrate followed by a calcinations process. The natural mica (muscovite), synthetic mica (fluorophlogopite) and -alumina flake were selected as the substrates for pearlescent pigments. The effect of substrate on the anatase to rutile (A–R) phase transformation of TiO₂ was studied. The A–R phase transformation of TiO₂ during the preparation of pearlescent pigments and their proportion in the TiO₂ layer have been analyzed by XRD measurements. The phase compositions of TiO₂ layer in each pearlescent pigment are quite different depending on the substrates. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina has higher rutile fraction than those on the natural and synthetic mica. The XPS analysis showed that the cations originally present in the substrates diffused into the TiO₂ layer. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina contains Al, while those on the natural and synthetic mica substrates contain Si and K in addition to Al. The metal cations diffusing from the substrate into TiO₂ layer might retard the A–R phase transformation of TiO₂. The suppressing effect on the A–R transformation of TiO₂ by mixed cations seems to be much stronger than that of single cation, resulting in relatively higher rutile fraction in the case of TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina.