Surface modification effects of CaCO₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles in nonpolar solvents

Abstract

In many industries, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are popular fillers and pigments. However, its application in a nonpolar medium is limited due to its surface characteristics in pristine conditions. This study focuses on modifying CaCO₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles using oleic and stearic acid. Several characterizations were performed to assess the changes in the treated material, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Additionally, the dispersion stability of both materials in different nonpolar solvents was visually inspected. The interaction of materials in surface modifications is a success where few additional peaks were presented in FTIR spectroscopy. The morphology and sedimentation outcomes revealed that the treated materials induced a better dispersion, smoother surface, and higher stability. The improvements in treated materials indicate a successful modification of the CaCO₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles for nonpolar medium applications.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• CaCO₃
• TiO₂ nanoparticles
• surface treatments
• oleic acid
• stearic acid

Acknowledgements

Nursabrina Amirah Mohd Nasir expressed her most profound appreciation to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia, for supplying the necessary equipment to complete the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.