Novel synthesis with an atomized microemulsion technique and characterization of nano-calcium carbonate (CaCO3)/poly(methyl methacrylate) core

Chatterjee, A., & Mishra, S. (2013). Novel synthesis with an atomized microemulsion technique and characterization of nano-calcium carbonate (CaCO3)/poly(methyl methacrylate) core–shell nanoparticles. Particuology, 11(6), 760–767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.11.005

Novel synthesis with an atomized microemulsion technique and characterization of nano-calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)/poly(methyl methacrylate) core–shell nanoparticles

Aniruddha Chatterjee, Satyendra Mishra^*

University Institute of Chemical Technology, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon 425 001, Maharashtra, India

10.1016/j.partic.2012.11.005

Volume 11, Issue 6, December 2013, Pages 760-767

Received 1 September 2012, Revised 3 November 2012, Accepted 22 November 2012, Available online 17 March 2013.

E-mail: profsm@rediffmail.com

Highlights

► Nano-CaCO₃/PMMA CSNPs were synthesized by atomized microemulsion polymerization process.

► Polymer chains were anchored onto the surface of nano-CaCO₃ through use of a coupling agent, TEVS.

► Encapsulation of nano-CaCO₃ by PMMA was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy.

► Inclusion of nano-CaCO₃/PMMA core–shell particles in PP matrix resulted in reinforcement.

Abstract

The synthesis of hard-core/soft-shell calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) hybrid structured nanoparticles (<100 nm) by an atomized microemulsion polymerization process is reported. The polymer chains were anchored onto the surface of nano-CaCO₃ through use of a coupling agent, triethoxyvinyl silane (TEVS). Ammonium persulfate (APS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and n-pentanol were used as the initiator, surfactant and cosurfactant, respectively. The polymerization mechanism of the core–shell latex particles is discussed. The encapsulation of nano-CaCO₃ by PMMA was confirmed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The grafting percentage of the core–shell particles was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The nano-CaCO₃/PMMA core–shell particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FTIR results revealed the existence of a strong interaction at the interface of the nano-CaCO₃ particle and the PMMA, which implies that the polymer chains were successfully grafted onto the surface of the nano-CaCO₃ particles through the link of the coupling agent. In addition, the TGA and DSC results indicated an enhancement of the thermal stability of the core–shell materials compared with that of the pure nano-PMMA. The nano-CaCO₃/PMMA particles were blended into a polypropylene (PP) matrix by melt processing. It can also be observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that the PMMA chains grafted onto the CaCO₃ nanoparticles interfere with the aggregation of CaCO₃ in the polymer matrix (PP matrix) and thus improve the compatibility of the CaCO₃ nanoparticles with the PP matrix.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Atomized microemulsion; Core–shell nanoparticles; Thermal properties; Compatibility of core–shell nanoparticles with polymer matrix

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