The manufacturing process can be broken down into 3 main parts as shown in the picture below. The 3 main parts of the manufacturing process are:
Compounding the Batch
1) Correction fluid are made in large stainless steel tanks (large enough to hold 3200 L of fluid)! These tanks have temperature coolers and mixers built in. Workers at the plants have to add the raw materials at the right time and temperature according to the formula. To control the mixing speed and temperature, they use computers.
2) The main tank has water already added to it. Raw materials such as suspended agents are added, and then mixing is done at a slow pace, so that way it doesn't allow air to pass through. As the suspending agent gets enough water, or hydrated, the mixing becomes to get faster.
3) The next step is for pigment dispersion to be made. The pigment is added to some water and then distributed at a very shear rate. When the particles are super small, they slowly start adding the main batch. Other ingredients like colors and preservatives are added at this point.
Quality Check
Once the ingredients are added, a sample of the batch is taken in for inspection. During the inspection, all the physical and chemical characteristics are checked and should meet the requirements in the formula. They also test stuff for the pH demonstration, viscosity, appearance, odor, and more. If the batch fails, then it's taken back to make adjustments. Once the batch is approved, the batch gets pumped into a holding tank until it's time to fill it in bottles.
Packaging
1) The packaging depends on the type of fluid being filled in. For a normal bottle of liquid paper, it starts out with bottles at the filling line. The bottles are held together in large bins and are physically manipulated until the bottles stand upright. When the machine starts, the bottles move along the conveyor belts until the filing heads hold the right correction fluid. As the bottles move down, the correct amount of liquid is added into the bottle. Once they're done with that, they go on to the capping machine. The machine sorts, adds, and even tightens the caps on the bottles. Finally, the bottles go through a labeling machine. This machine adds all the needed information to the bottle. The bottles are placed into boxes and wait till they need to be shipped.
Compounding the Batch
1) Correction fluid are made in large stainless steel tanks (large enough to hold 3200 L of fluid)! These tanks have temperature coolers and mixers built in. Workers at the plants have to add the raw materials at the right time and temperature according to the formula. To control the mixing speed and temperature, they use computers.
2) The main tank has water already added to it. Raw materials such as suspended agents are added, and then mixing is done at a slow pace, so that way it doesn't allow air to pass through. As the suspending agent gets enough water, or hydrated, the mixing becomes to get faster.
3) The next step is for pigment dispersion to be made. The pigment is added to some water and then distributed at a very shear rate. When the particles are super small, they slowly start adding the main batch. Other ingredients like colors and preservatives are added at this point.
Quality Check
Once the ingredients are added, a sample of the batch is taken in for inspection. During the inspection, all the physical and chemical characteristics are checked and should meet the requirements in the formula. They also test stuff for the pH demonstration, viscosity, appearance, odor, and more. If the batch fails, then it's taken back to make adjustments. Once the batch is approved, the batch gets pumped into a holding tank until it's time to fill it in bottles.
Packaging
1) The packaging depends on the type of fluid being filled in. For a normal bottle of liquid paper, it starts out with bottles at the filling line. The bottles are held together in large bins and are physically manipulated until the bottles stand upright. When the machine starts, the bottles move along the conveyor belts until the filing heads hold the right correction fluid. As the bottles move down, the correct amount of liquid is added into the bottle. Once they're done with that, they go on to the capping machine. The machine sorts, adds, and even tightens the caps on the bottles. Finally, the bottles go through a labeling machine. This machine adds all the needed information to the bottle. The bottles are placed into boxes and wait till they need to be shipped.
Raw Materials:
To make the correction fluid, there are many types of materials needed. In most cases, the formula is composed of the following main ingredients: an opacifying agent, a polymeric film former, a solvent and other ingredients. The opacifying agent is the most important ingredient added to the formula. The opacifying agent is responsible for covering the errant marking. The most common type of opacifying agent is titanium oxide. Titanium oxide is an inorganic material that comes from titanium ores . In general, this agent makes 40-60% of the formula. Solvents are also added to control the viscosity and dry time of the fluid. Two types of solvent are used: typically a mixture between water and alcohol. The formula is anywhere from 25-50% solvent. Since titanium oxide isn't soluble in a solvent, suspending agents and dispersing agents are added.
To make the correction fluid, there are many types of materials needed. In most cases, the formula is composed of the following main ingredients: an opacifying agent, a polymeric film former, a solvent and other ingredients. The opacifying agent is the most important ingredient added to the formula. The opacifying agent is responsible for covering the errant marking. The most common type of opacifying agent is titanium oxide. Titanium oxide is an inorganic material that comes from titanium ores . In general, this agent makes 40-60% of the formula. Solvents are also added to control the viscosity and dry time of the fluid. Two types of solvent are used: typically a mixture between water and alcohol. The formula is anywhere from 25-50% solvent. Since titanium oxide isn't soluble in a solvent, suspending agents and dispersing agents are added.
Resource Extraction
Titanium Dioxide
TiO2 is an inorganic compound that is mainly produced as a white powder. It's usually sold in two crystal forms, anatase and rutile.
The process goes as following:
Rutile
1. Ore import (natural or synthetic rutile, slag or ilmenite)
2. Chlorination (process of adding chlorine atoms to an inorganic compound)
3. Separating the solids
4. Condensation/ Gas scrubbing
5. TiCl4 purification (titanium tetrachloride)
6.Oxidation (interaction between oxygen molecules and other substances)
7.Cooling
8. Degassing and Separation
9. Finishing
10. Final TiO2 product
Ilmenite
1. Ore import (slag or ilmenite)
2. Digestion
3. Reduction (to ilmenite only)
4. Clarification
5. Crystallization (to ilmenite only)
6. Hydrate Precipitation (hydrolysis)
7. Filter/Wash
8. Calcination (subjecting a substance to the action of heat)
9. Finishing
10. Final Ti02 product
Titanium Dioxide
TiO2 is an inorganic compound that is mainly produced as a white powder. It's usually sold in two crystal forms, anatase and rutile.
The process goes as following:
Rutile
1. Ore import (natural or synthetic rutile, slag or ilmenite)
2. Chlorination (process of adding chlorine atoms to an inorganic compound)
3. Separating the solids
4. Condensation/ Gas scrubbing
5. TiCl4 purification (titanium tetrachloride)
6.Oxidation (interaction between oxygen molecules and other substances)
7.Cooling
8. Degassing and Separation
9. Finishing
10. Final TiO2 product
Ilmenite
1. Ore import (slag or ilmenite)
2. Digestion
3. Reduction (to ilmenite only)
4. Clarification
5. Crystallization (to ilmenite only)
6. Hydrate Precipitation (hydrolysis)
7. Filter/Wash
8. Calcination (subjecting a substance to the action of heat)
9. Finishing
10. Final Ti02 product