The effect of mixing rate on the synthesis of organoceramics

Organoceramics are a new class of polymer/ceramic nanocomposite materials whereby the polymers are molecularly dispersed within the ceramic lattice. These nanocomposites were synthesized by the precipitation of tetracalcium aluminate in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol). The concentration of organoceramic produced increased as the rate of mixing was reduced. Transmission electron microscopy shows that, instead of having polymer chains wrapping up the ceramic grains, the tetracalcium aluminate precipitates onto the curled polymer chains resulting in spherical particles rather than the typical ceramic plate-shaped particles.