Showa Denko to Expand Nanoparticle TiO2 Output Capacity

Showa Denko announced on Wednesday the firm expands output capacity for nanoparticle titanium oxide, named Super-Titania, to 240 tonnes per month in June 2011 from present 180 tonnes per month at its 100% subsidiary, Showa Titanium in Toyama, Japan. Showa Titanium will increase its productive lines from present 3 to 4. Nanoparticle titanium oxide is used for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). MLCCs are widely applied into digital appliances such as personal computers, cellular phones and flat panel televisions. The demand is growing by about 10% per year.

Titanium oxide is a material for barium titanate, which is used as MLCC’s dielectric. Recently high-purity and fine-particle barium titanate is required to realize small and high capacity MLCCs. Meanwhile, there are 2 different productive processes for barium titanate, those which are solid phase process and liquid phase process. Solid phase process enables low cost production of MLCCs with high dielectric characteristics while requires fine-particle titanium oxide.

Super-Titania is 15-250 nanometers diameter with high purity, which is suitable for production of small and high capacity MLCCs. In addition, Super-Titania can be used for other applications such as fillers and photocatalysts. Showa Denko provides Super-Titania for diversified applications.