Preparation of TiO₂/sericite composite by mechano-chemical method and calcination with favorable pigment properties and photocatalytic properties

TiO₂/sericite composite was fabricated by mechano-chemical method followed by calcination using metatitanic acid and sericite as raw materials. The relative parameters, such as pH value, were optimized to ensure the best pigment properties of the composite. The results of XRD diffraction, SEM, IR showed that TiO₂, with anatase as the main phase, coated evenly on the surfaces of sericite by forming Si[sbnd]O[sbnd]Ti chemical bonds. The prepared TiO₂/sericite composite possesses pigment properties similar to those of titanium white and also exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance. These two advantages, together with simple preparation process and low cost, indicate the large application potential of TiO₂/sericite composite particles in the near future.