Materials Science and Engineering A 501 (2009) 87–93 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Materials Science and Engineering A journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/msea Effect of nanosized and surface-modified precipitated calcium carbonate on properties of CaCO 3 /polypropylene nanocomposites Tran Dai Lam a,∗ , Tran Vinh Hoang a , Duong Tuan Quang b , Jong Seung Kim c,∗∗ a Department of Inorganic and General Chemistry, Hanoi University of Technology, Ha Noi 8404, Viet Nam b Department of Chemistry, Hue University, Hue 84054, Viet Nam c Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea article info Article history: Received 10 June 2008 Received in revised form 15 September 2008 Accepted 22 September 2008 Keywords: Nanosized PCC Surface-modified PCC ns-PCC Polypropylene Composite 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. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The industrial importance of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) as a filler in composite materials such as plastics, textiles, rubbers, paints, pigments, and paper is well known. Such industrial applications require well-defined PCC particles with a narrow size distribution, uniform shape, and definite crystal structure. These characteristics play a crucial role in PCC properties and their con- trol is closely related with the method of its production and the process parameters [1]. Many recent developments in thermoplastic materials have been dealt with altering properties of well-known existing poly- mers to meet end-use specific requirements. Among the most popular thermoplastic polymers, polypropylene (PP) is extensively used in many applications due to its good performance, easy pro- cessing and low cost. However, these applications are limited due to its high shrinkage rate and relatively poor impact resistance at room or low temperatures. In general, the stiffness, modulus of elastic- ∗ Corresponding author. ∗∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 2 3290 3143/84 438680110; fax: +82 2 3290 3121/84 438692300. E-mail addresses: lamtd-fct@mail.hut.edu.vn (T.D. Lam), jongskim@korea.ac.kr (J.S. Kim). ity, hardness tensile stress at break, melt viscosity are ameliorated significantly by filling with rigid inorganic particles. Some of the most popular fillers, widely used in industry are PCC, mica and talc powder. However, the impact toughness, elongation and melt index might be reduced in some extent when using these fillers. There- fore, a special attention has been paid during the past decade on improving impact toughness of PP while balancing the quality/cost ratio of the final composite [2–9]. Recently, using nanosized inorganic particles has become one of the most perspective solutions to these problems. Normally, the mechanical and physical properties of composites are closely related to the dispersion of the filler particles into polymer matrix. Several research groups have attempted to modify polymeric mate- rials with nanosized inorganic fillers like ZnO [3], SiO 2 [4], clay [5], PCC surface modified by rare earth elements [9], and noble metals [10]. The synthesis of nano-PCC is being given more and more atten- tion because of its excellent properties and increasing market demand. In this paper, the synthesis of nanosized surface-modified PCC particles for PP composites was reported when using tradi- tional carbonation method altered with crystallization inhibitor (polyphosphate) and surface modifier (fatty acid). The choice of the carbonation method along with inhibiting and modi- fying agents was based on economic-industrial aspects of the process. 0921-5093/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2008.09.060