Production of nano‐calcium carbonate from shells of the freshwater channeled applesnail, Pomacea canaliculata, by hydrothermal treatment and its application with polyvinyl chloride

The use of naturally renewable shells of the freshwater channeled applesnail, Pomacea canaliculata , as a filler to replace commercial calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) was investigated in this study. Ground P. canaliculata shell particles were converted to nano‐CaCO 3 particles by the displacement reaction of calcium chloride in sodium carbonate solution followed by hydrothermal treatment at 100°C for 1 h to synthesize nano‐CaCO 3 with particle sizes of 30–100 nm in diameter. The mechanical properties, in terms of the tensile strength, elongation at brake and impact strength, of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were greatly improved by mixing with nano‐CaCO 3 at 5–10 parts per hundred of resin. Additionally, the presence of nano‐CaCO 3 at the same levels increased the flame resistance and thermal stability of the PVC composite materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1620–1628, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers