Effect of nanosized and surface-modified precipitated calcium carbonate on properties of CaCO3/polypropylene nanocomposites

Abstract

The nanosized and surface-modified precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles have been synthesized by carbonation reaction and used as reinforcing filler for preparing polypropylene (PP) composites. Both a crystallization inhibitor (sodium tripolyphosphate, TPP) and an organic surface modifier (stearic acid) were used to get narrow size distribution, uniform shape and nanometer size. The comprehensive results of morphological and mechanical analyses on PP composites, prepared with trivial, untreated PCC (t-PCC); nanosized and surface-unmodified PCC (n-PCC); nanosized and surface-modified PCC (ns-PCC) separately, were reported and discussed thoroughly. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.