Light Calcium Carbonate (Precipitated Calcium Carbonate, PCC)

Material Profile
Light Calcium Carbonate is a synthetic, fine, white powder produced through chemical precipitation, characterized by its high purity, specific particle morphology, and low density. It serves as a versatile functional filler and additive across numerous industries, valued for its ability to enhance product properties while reducing costs.

Core Characteristics

• Chemical Nature: Alkaline, reacts with strong acids

• Particle Morphology: Controlled shapes (cubic, rhombohedral, scalenohedral, spherical)

• Surface Chemistry: Polar, hydrophilic (can be modified to hydrophobic)

• Key Differentiator vs. Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC): Higher purity, narrower particle size distribution, engineered particle shape.

Advanced Application Scenarios

1. Plastics & Polymer Composites – "The Performance Modifier"

• PVC Profiles & Pipes: Improves stiffness, heat deflection temperature, and dimensional stability. Acts as a cost-effective extender, reducing polymer consumption. Surface-treated grades enhance impact strength.

• Polyolefin Films: Improates whiteness, opacity, and surface gloss. Acts as a spacer in breathable films.

• Engineering Plastics: Enhances mechanical properties and provides a matte finish in products like PP and PA composites.

• Biodegradable Plastics (PLA/PBAT): Serves as a reinforcing filler and nucleation agent, accelerating biodegradation rates in specific environments.

2. Rubber Industry – "The Reinforcing Filler"

• Tire & Automotive Parts: Improves tensile strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance. Often used in combination with carbon black.

• Seals & Gaskets: Enhances compression set and fluid resistance.

• Footwear: Provides reinforcement and reduces material costs in shoe soles.

3. Paints & Coatings – "The Opacity & Rheology Controller"

• Architectural Coatings: Enhates dry hide, reduces TiO₂ requirements (spacing effect), improves scrub resistance, and controls sheen.

• Industrial Coatings: Contributes to sag resistance, sandability, and corrosion protection (as a barrier pigment).

• Printing Inks: Adjusts viscosity and improves printability.

4. Paper Industry – "The Filler & Coating Pigment"

• Paper Filling: Improves brightness, opacity, and printability. More efficient than GCC due to higher surface area and light scattering capability.

• Paper Coating: Provides high gloss and smoothness in coated paper and paperboard.

5. Adhesives & Sealants – "The Rheology & Cost Adjuster"

• Caulks & Sealants: Imparts non-slump properties, reinforces, and extends the product.

• Adhesives: Controls viscosity, improves cohesive strength, and is used as an extender.

6. Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics – "The Excipient"

• Tablets: Serves as a diluent/filler and a source of calcium.

• Toothpaste: Acts as a mild abrasive and thickener.

• Cosmetics (Powders, Foundations): Provides texture, opacity, and oil absorption.

Technological Breakthroughs & Sustainable Development

Precipitation & Crystallization Control

• Carbonation Process Optimization: Precise control over CO₂ gas concentration, temperature, and stirring enables the engineering of specific crystal habits (e.g., scalenohedral for high opacity in plastics, cubic for high packing density).

• Multi-Stage Reactors: Allow for the production of complex core-shell or composite particles.

Surface Modification Technology

• In-situ & Ex-situ Treatment: Application of stearic acid, titanates, silanes, and other coupling agents improves compatibility with organic polymers, enhancing dispersion, mechanical properties, and moisture resistance.

• Nano-CaCO₃: Production of particles in the 20-100 nm range for specialized applications requiring transparency or extreme reinforcement.

Sustainability & Environmental Profile

• CO₂ Utilization: The precipitation process consumes carbon dioxide, potentially utilizing emissions from other industrial processes.

• Resource Efficiency: Acts as a polymer extender, reducing the consumption of petroleum-based resins.

• Biocompatibility & Non-Toxicity: Inherently safe for use in food-contact, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.

Quality & Consistency

• Advanced Particle Sizing & Morphology Analysis: Laser diffraction, SEM, and BET ensure precise control over product specifications.

• Automated Process Control: Ensures batch-to-batch consistency in terms of particle size distribution (e.g., d50 from 0.5 to 3 µm), brightness (>96%), and surface treatment level.

Technical Advantages

Quality Specifications (Varies by Grade)

• CaCO₃ Content: Typically >98%

• Brightness (ISO): >95%

• Particle Size (d50): 0.5 - 3.0 µm (tunable)

• Specific Surface Area (BET): 2 - 30 m²/g

• Oil Absorption: 20 - 60 g/100g

Physical Characteristics

• Appearance: Ultra-fine, dry, white powder.

• Bulk Density: Low, typically 0.2 - 0.7 g/cm³ (hence "light").

• Specific Gravity: ~2.7

• pH (Slurry): ~9-10

Application Support

• Provides technical data sheets (TDS) with detailed specifications on particle size, surface area, and surface treatment.

• Offers formulation guidance and technical service for optimizing loadings and achieving target properties in specific polymer systems or applications.