Dependent light scattering in white paint films: clarification and application of the theoretical concepts

Among the numerous publications analyzing the causes and consequences of titanium dioxide crowding on the optical properties of white paint films, one notes some inconsistencies. First, a significant number of studies are inclined to describe "dependent" and "multiple" scattering of light as distinct phenomena. Second, the transition from independent to dependent light-scattering is often associated with an ill-defined "threshold" concentration. The aim of this study is to clarify the intricate connections between these two scattering regimes and in particular to show that for white paint films loaded with rutile titanium dioxide pigments, "dependent" light scattering is merely a particular manifestation of multiple scattering processes. We also clarify that the transition from independent to dependent scattering is a continuous process that cannot be formally related to a specific threshold in the pigment volume concentration. Finally, we propose a simple method based on the dependent scattering amplitude to assist paint formulators facing the task of improving the hiding power of a white paint either by increasing the quantity of pigments or by improving their spatial state of dispersion.