Rapid Flash-Paper Combustion Synthesis of Titania and Carbon Pigments

Abstract

Flash-paper combustion offers a rapid, energy-efficient route for synthesizing industrially relevant pigments. In this study, we demonstrate the preparation of titania and carbon pigments using nitrocellulose-based flash paper as a reactive scaffold. For titania, flash paper was impregnated with an aqueous Ti(III) chloride solution, dried, and ignited, yielding a lightweight product composed of anatase and rutile phases, which was subsequently further calcined to obtain nearly pure rutile. The resulting pigment effectively modified the color of lead borate glass, highlighting its practical applicability. The carbon pigment was similarly produced by impregnating flash paper with a sugar solution, followed by ignition. When incorporated into waterborne acrylic ink, the black pigment formed uniform, flexible coatings, demonstrating its functional performance in ink formulations. Flash-paper combustion is a rapid, energy self-sufficient, and potentially scalable method for producing high-value titania and carbon pigments in a simple, sustainable process that can harness the released thermal energy.