Crystallization of calcium carbonate on polyethylene γ-radiation-grafted with acrylic acid

Abstract

The use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films grafted with acrylic acid by γ-ray irradiation as a template to control the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate crystals was attempted. The morphology evolution of crystals formed from supersaturated calcium bicarbonate solution on the grafted HDPE films was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the interaction between the formed crystals and the grafted HDPE films was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results of the characterizations proved that carboxylic acid functional groups on the grafted HDPE films significantly facilitated the heterogeneous nucleation of calcium carbonate crystals, and the distribution of the crystals was in congruity with that of the grafted carboxylic acid groups, as discovered by the atomic force microscopic images. It can be concluded that radiation-induced grafting, a method for functional modification of polymer surfaces, is also an effective means for studying biomineralization.