Why Kronos Worldwide’s TiONA 288 pigment quietly shapes everyday plastics
18.06.2026 - 00:59:16 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news Accessory & Components desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-18, 00:57. Details in the imprint.
TiONA 288 from Kronos Worldwide is one of those industrial pigments you never see but notice immediately when it is missing - plastics lose their clean white, parts weather faster, surfaces look dull instead of tight and crisp.
All news and background on Kronos Worldwide
Kronos Worldwide’s specialty titanium dioxide grades like TiONA 288 sit at the heart of its business model and directly reflect trends in construction, automotive, and packaging demand.
What TiONA 288 is built for
TiONA 288 is a chloride-process titanium dioxide pigment grade tailored specifically for plastics, not coatings or paper. It targets applications such as automotive components, household appliances, profiles, and high-performance packaging where both whiteness and mechanical properties matter.
The pigment is surface-treated and optimized so that it disperses finely in polymer melts, aiming to deliver high brightness and opacity while maintaining impact strength in finished parts. Engineers looking at datasheets will find particle size, surface treatment, and optical data designed with polymer processing in mind.
How it behaves in plastics processing
In the extruder or injection-molding machine, TiONA 288 is meant to flow rather than fight. Kronos highlights easy dispersion and low tendency to agglomerate, which helps avoid streaks and undispersed specks in glossy parts. That saves rework and scrap on the production floor.
The grade is positioned for polyolefins and engineering plastics, where screw speeds, melt temperatures, and shear can be high. Good dispersion at lower energy input can mean shorter cycle times and more stable color from batch to batch, a quiet but very tangible productivity lever for converters.
Optical properties and durability
In use, TiONA 288 aims for a neutral, clean white rather than a bluish or creamy cast. That neutral tone is important when the pigment acts as a base for subtle tints or has to match existing parts in an assembly, for example in appliance fronts or interior trim.
Beyond shade, the pigment is engineered for high tinting strength and hiding power, so manufacturers can achieve full opacity at lower loading levels. In outdoor or semi-outdoor parts, weathering stability and UV resistance are key, and the surface treatment is designed to limit chalking and color drift over time.
Where the grade finds its niche
Within the Kronos portfolio, TiONA 288 sits alongside other plastics-focused grades and more general-purpose titanium dioxide types. It is positioned where demanding mechanical performance and consistent color are both must-haves, not either-or compromises.
Compounding houses and large converters can use the pigment in masterbatches that later color a wide range of end products. That makes the grade a quiet backbone for series production - from window profiles in housing projects to white caps and closures on consumer packaging lines.
What might still annoy users
TiONA 288 is a specialized grade, and that usually comes at a price premium over simpler, more commodity-like titanium dioxide pigments. For cost-sensitive applications, buyers may still opt for lower-cost alternatives with less optimized performance.
Another practical point is that not every converter needs the full package of properties. For purely indoor, non-critical parts, the advanced weathering or mechanical benefits can feel like overkill, so procurement departments will weigh the technical comfort against tight budgets.
Why the pigment matters for Kronos Worldwide
For Kronos Worldwide, differentiated grades such as TiONA 288 are a way to defend margins in a market that is otherwise heavily cyclical and price-driven. Plastic-focused pigments plug directly into automotive, construction, and packaging volumes that track broader economic growth.
Shares of Kronos Worldwide (US50127T1079) trade on the New York Stock Exchange in US dollars.
Key facts on TiONA 288 at a glance
- Product: TiONA 288
- Manufacturer: Kronos Worldwide Inc.
- Category: Accessory/Spare part - titanium dioxide pigment for plastics
- Launch: Marketed as part of the TiONA plastics range, in commercial use for several years
- RRP / Price: Not publicly listed; negotiated individually per ton with industrial customers
- Availability: Sold directly to plastics compounders and converters, primarily in industrial markets via Kronos’ sales network
- Target group: Plastics engineers, buyers and compounding specialists in automotive, construction, appliance, and packaging sectors
- Highlight / USP: Chloride-process titanium dioxide optimized for easy dispersion, high whiteness, and balanced mechanical and weathering performance in plastics
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
