Controllable mineralization of calcium carbonate on regenerated cellulose fibers

Gel-forming fibers (GF fibers) can serve as nucleation sites to prepare calcium carbonate (CaCO3) because they can adsorb large amounts of Ca2+ due to their porous structure. In this paper, mineralization behavior of CaCO3 on GF fibers in ethanol-water mixed solvents without any additives has been investigated. The results showed that some crystals covered the fibers, while others were embedded in fibers. Twin-sphere based vaterite, zonary and rodlike calcite with large aspect ratio could be prepared successfully. The effect of ethanol content inside GF fibers, concentration of Ca2+ and CO32-, mineralization time, miscibility between alcohol and water, and temperature were studied. Lastly, a possible mineralization mode was suggested. This work could provide a new method to prepare inorganic/polymer hybrid materials. (C) 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim