What Are the Reasons for Surface Modification of Calcium Carbonate ?

Surface modification of calcium carbonate is a key method to improve calcium carbonate’s performance and applicability. It helps expand markets and increase usage. In the future, functionalization and specialization will be the main trends in calcium carbonate development. The market demand for specially modified calcium carbonate will grow increasingly.

Surface Modification of Calcium Carbonate Improving the Dispersibility

Ultrafine processing is a key way to enhance the quality of calcium carbonate. However, as the particle size decreases, the surface energy increases, leading to stronger adsorption and more severe agglomeration.

Surface modification can direct the adsorption of modifiers onto the surface of calcium carbonate, giving it charged properties. Due to the repulsion of like charges, calcium carbonate is less likely to agglomerate, ensuring good dispersion within the matrix.

Surface Modification of Calcium Carbonate Improving the Compatibility

Surface modification can enhance the interfacial compatibility and affinity of calcium carbonate with organic materials, thus improving the performance of composite products like rubber or plastics.

For example, calcium carbonate treated with titanate coupling agents shows better compatibility with polymer molecules. The titanate coupling agent forms molecular bridges between calcium carbonate and polymer molecules, strengthening the interaction between organic polymers or resins and calcium carbonate. This significantly improves the mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites, such as impact strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and elongation.

Reducing the Oil Absorption Value of Calcium Carbonate

Surface modification is an effective method for reducing the oil absorption value of powders. After modification, the aggregation of calcium carbonate particles is reduced, dispersibility is improved, and the gaps between particles are minimized.

At the same time, the modifying molecules cover the surface of calcium carbonate, reducing the internal voids of the particles. This coverage also alters the surface properties, weakening the surface polarity and decreasing inter-particle friction. The enhanced lubrication leads to tighter packing, increasing the bulk density and reducing the oil absorption value.

Surface Modification of Calcium Carbonate Expand the High-end Application Market

Unmodified calcium carbonate has poor compatibility, easy agglomeration, and suboptimal performance. These drawbacks become more obvious as the amount increases.

Through surface modification, calcium carbonate gains good interfacial affinity and reduced oil absorption. It can be better applied to high-end fields like plastics, coatings, rubber, paper, sealants, and breathable films. This enhances product quality while also lowering production costs for companies in the application sector.

Granting Calcium Carbonate Additional Functional Properties

Unmodified calcium carbonate can only serve as a traditional filler, limiting its applications and usage. However, through surface modification, calcium carbonate transforms into a multifunctional modifier.

For instance, calcium carbonate coated with silica can partially replace white carbon black and supplement its performance deficiencies. In addition, light calcium carbonate coated with metals can improve certain special properties of rubber products. Moreover, calcium carbonate composites coated with titanium dioxide can partially replace titanium white. Finally, acid-resistant calcium carbonate can be produced by treating calcium carbonate with phosphates, aluminates, silicates, or barium salts.

Increasing the Added Value of Calcium Carbonate Products

Currently, there is an oversupply of regular calcium carbonate in China, and price competition is fierce. Surface-modified calcium carbonate shows significantly improved performance and better user experience, which naturally leads to higher product prices.

Epic Powder

Epic Powder, 20+ years of work experience in the ultrafine powder industry. Actively promote the future development of ultra-fine powder, focusing on crushing,grinding,classifying and modification process of ultra-fine powder.  Contact us for a free consultation and customized solutions! Our expert team is dedicated to providing high-quality products and services to maximize the value of your powder processing. Epic Powder—Your Trusted Powder Processing Expert !