Overview
ISO/TS 11937:2012 - Nanotechnologies: Nanoscale titanium dioxide in powder form - Characteristics and measurement specifies the basic material characteristics and measurement methods needed to describe nanoscale titanium dioxide powders for nanotechnology applications. The Technical Specification is limited to dry powders, excludes dispersed/suspended forms, and does not address health & safety requirements or application‑specific performance and surface‑modification details.
Key topics and requirements
- Material scope: Nanoscale TiO2 powders (rutile and anatase crystalline forms); brookite and amorphous forms are not specified.
- Core characteristics to measure and report:
- Mass fraction of TiO2 (chemical analysis, e.g., methods in ISO 591-1)
- Ratio of crystalline phases (anatase/rutile) - measured by X‑ray diffraction (XRD)
- Average crystallite size - derived from XRD (e.g., Scherrer approach)
- Average primary particle size - measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- Specific surface area (m2/g) - measured by BET gas adsorption (ISO 9277)
- Sampling and reporting:
- Representative sampling per ISO 14488
- Test reports must reference ISO/TS 11937, identify material and batch, list laboratory, present results with measurement methods, and include measurement uncertainty and TEM details (particle count, standard deviation, method description)
- Limitations & notes:
- Applies to dry powders only; coated/doped particles may be present - XRD measures crystalline core, TEM measures physical particle including coatings
- Measurement procedures themselves are not prescribed in full; methods should be applied under an appropriate quality system
Applications and practical value
- Provides a common specification to:
- Support product specification and quality control for manufacturers of nanoscale TiO2
- Enable consistent material characterization for formulators in sunscreens, coatings, plastics, inks and photocatalysts
- Assist laboratories and testing bodies in reporting comparable particle size, crystallinity, and surface area data
- Facilitate supplier–buyer communication and regulatory submission of material data (excluding safety assessments)
Who should use this standard
- TiO2 powder manufacturers and suppliers
- Analytical laboratories performing XRD, TEM and BET testing
- Product developers and formulators in cosmetics, coatings, and catalysis
- Procurement specialists, regulators and conformity assessors needing standardized material descriptions
Related standards (select)
Keywords: ISO/TS 11937:2012, nanoscale titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide powder, XRD, TEM, BET, particle size, specific surface area, nanotechnology characterization.