Interfacial structures and mechanical properties of PVC composites reinforced by CaCO3 with different particle sizes and surface treatments

The effects of particle size and surface treatment of CaCO3 particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites filled with CaCO3 particles via a melt blending method were studied by SEM, an AG‐2000 universal material testing machine and an XJU‐2.75 Izod impact strength machine. The tensile and impact strengths of CaCO3/PVC greatly increased with decreasing CaCO3 particle size, which was attributed to increased interfacial contact area and enhanced interfacial adhesion between CaCO3 particles and PVC matrix. Titanate‐treated nano‐CaCO3/PVC composites had superior tensile and impact strengths to untreated or sodium‐stearate‐treated CaCO3/PVC composites. The impact strength of titanate‐treated nano‐CaCO3/PVC composites was 26.3 ± 1.1 kJ m−2, more than three times that of pure PVC materials. The interfacial adhesion between CaCO3 particles and PVC matrix was characterized by the interfacial interaction parameter B and the debonding angle θ, both of which were calculated from the tensile strength of CaCO3/PVC composites. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry