Ukrainian billionaire Dmitry Firtash plans to invest almost $250 million into his ZAT Krymskyi Tytan to double production of titanium dioxide in three years.

The plant, based in the Crimean region of Ukraine, wants to increase production of titanium dioxide, which is used to make paint, plastic, glass and other product, to an annual 125,000 tons by year-end, Firtash’s holding company Group DF said in an e-mailed statement today.

The plant currently makes 105,000 tons of titanium dioxide a year, according to the statement. In the future, Krymskyi Tytan will make as much as 200,000 tons of the product a year.

Generally the tubes are made of stainless steel, copper alloys such as brass or bronze, cupro nickel, or titanium depending on several selection criteria. Titanium tube is usually the best technical choice, however the use of titanium tubes has been virtually eliminated by the sharp increases in the costs for this material.

Seven Fun Facts about Titanium:

• Titanium dioxide is a mined product.
• It is mined in the U.S. as well as in Australia, India, South Africa and the Ukraine.
• The U.S. imports TIO2 for paint from Canada, Germany, France, Spain and other nations.
• It is used in paints, coatings, plastics, papers, inks, foods, medicines (tablets and pills), toothpaste, and food coloring.
• It is often used in skim milk to whiten it and make it more appealing to the eye.
• Of the white pigments, it is the most widely used and the brightest white.
• Because it is an effective opacifier, it is used in sunscreens as well as in makeup. It is also an effective UV absorber.

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