Microporous polyvinyl chloride:: novel reactor for PVC/CaCO3 nanocomposites

Microporous polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with pore size of 0.2-2 mu m has been obtained by the foaming of PVC powders using a solution of 2,2'-azo-bis-iso-butyronitrile in a co-solvent of butanone and cyclohexanone. The PVC/CaCO3 hybrid powders deposited with CaCO3 nanoparticles have been synthesized using the microporous PVC as reactors of CaCO3 nanoparticles, i.e., the reaction of Ca(OH)(2) with CO2 occurs inside the pore of microporous PVC. The in situ PVC/CaCO3 nanocomposites have been prepared by melt blending in situ PVC/CaCO3 hybrid powders. The images of SEM and TEM show that the in situ CaCO3 nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed in the PVC matrix and the sizes of the CaCO3 nanoparticles are less than 50 nm. TEM images and XRD patterns for the in situ CaCO3 strongly suggest that pseudo-amorphous crystals and defect-rich crystals are formed. The mechanical properties and DMA data indicate that the in situ PVC/CaCO3 nanocomposites exhibit much higher strength, toughness, modulus and glass temperature than common PVC/CaCO3 nanocomposites. This novel nanotechnology has potential applications in preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites.