Effects of the reinforcement and toughening of acrylate resin/CaCO3 nanoparticles on rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

Novel composite particles based on nanoscale calcium carbonate (nano‐CaCO₃) as the core and polyacrylates as the shell were first synthesized by in situ encapsulating emulsion polymerization in the presence of the fresh slush pulp of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles. Subsequently, these modified nanoparticles were compounded with rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (RPVC) to prepare RPVC/CaCO₃ nanocomposites. At the same time, the effects of the reinforcement and toughening of these modified nanoparticles on RPVC were investigated, and the synergistic effect of modified nanoparticles with chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) was also studied. The results showed that in the presence of nano‐CaCO₃ particles, the in situ emulsion polymerization of acrylates was carried out smoothly, and polyacrylates successfully encapsulated on the surface of nano‐CaCO₃ to prepare the modified nanoparticles, breaking down nano‐CaCO₃ particle agglomerates, improving their dispersion in the matrix, and also increasing the particle–matrix interfacial adhesion. Thus, the effects of the reinforcement and toughening of these modified nanoparticles on RPVC were very significant, and the cooperative effect of the nanoparticles with CPE occurred in the united modification system. Scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated that large‐fiber drawing and network morphologies coexisted in the system of joint modification of nanoparticles with CPE. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3940–3949, 2007