Recent price increases for titanium dioxide (TiO2) and fires at plants where it is produced have raised concerns about its affordability and availability. Titanium dioxide in its white powder form is the most widely used white pigment, largely due to its very high refractive index, meaning its ability to refract the light that strikes it producing a high level of brightness and opacity to cover what is underneath it. It also resists discoloration when exposed to ultraviolet light, particularly when exposed to sunlight over time.