Aging of TiO 2 nanocomposites used in sunscreen. Dispersion and fate of the degradation products in aqueous environment
Abstract(#br)Aging in water of a TiO 2 -based nanocomposite used in sunscreen cosmetics has been studied as a function of light and time. It consisted initially in a TiO 2 core, coated with Al(OH) 3 and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers. Size measurement, coating alteration, and surface charge were followed by laser diffraction, TEM/EDS, ICP-AES and electrophoretic mobility measurement.(#br)The nanocomposite rapidly underwent progressive dispersion in the aqueous phase, enabled by the dissolution of the PDMS layer.