Changes of surface properties of calcite particles with calcium stearate using conventional experimental design and properties of coated calcite

Calcite is utilized as a filler mineral in the industries such as plastics, rubber, and paint, to gain products with a variety of features. In order to use a calcite ore as a filler, some specific physical and physico-chemical properties are required such as ultra-fine sizes and conversion of hydrophilic to hydrophobic structure. In the present study, for these purposes, surfaces of the ultra-fine calcite powder (d50=2.94 μm) were coated by a mechano-chemical process with calcium stearate [Ca(C17H35COO)2] in a stirred ball mill. The influence of operating parameters such as calcite filling-ratio, ball-filling ratio, operation speed, grinding time and chemical dosage on the active ratio (%) was systematically examined. Then, the properties of modified calcite product were measured and evaluated by contact angle, TGA, DTA, FTIR, and SEM. The results showed that the mechano-chemical technology is very effective for modifying the surface of micronized calcite products using calcium stearate chemical.