Crystal Design of Calcium Carbonate Microparticles Using Double-Hydrophilic Block Copolymers

• DOI: 10.1021/la970765t
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T05:28:13Z
• Authors: Helmut Cölfen; Markus Antonietti
• Keywords: Vaterite; Dispersity

Small block copolymers, consisting of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and second moiety which strongly interacts with alkaline earth ions, were employed to template the precipitation calcium carbonate from aqueous solution. Depending on type polymeric functionalization pattern used, it was possible grow two three different crystal modifications CaCO3 (vaterite calcite) under similar conditions. Vaterite could be successfully stabilized for more than 1 year by polymer conditions where would normally transform into calcite within 80 h. Also size shape respond template; example, monodisperse spherical particles diameter ca. 2 μm or hollow spheres both aggregated nanocrystallites. The effect functional groups variable length size, shape, morphology is discussed. It must emphasized that these sediment, but are protected dense layer double-hydrophilic enables direct use as pigments fillers in ceramic processing.