Cationic precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) synthesis using simultaneous modification

Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) as a mineral filler has many different industrial applications. The aim of the current study was to modify the PCC particles with cationic cornstarch and polyacrylamide to prepare modified PCC filler with improved hydrogen-bonding capability for papermaking industry. The modified samples were produced by simultaneous synthesis and modification procedures. The results showed that the cubic-like and nano-sized particles of precipitated calcium carbonate were successfully prepared from the commercial lime using carbonation of the slaked lime. The morphology and particle size of particles could be tailored using this method as illustrated by the FESEM results. XRD and FTIR data indicated that all the synthesized particles were prominently calcite polymorph with a slight amount of aragonite. Besides, the presence of organic substances in the structure of the modified samples was confirmed by FT-IR technique.