A novel calcium hydroxide molecular composite: preparation and characterisation

Abstract

The surface of a highly crystalline calcium hydroxide sample consisting of thin hexagonal plates was modified by a two-step reaction, so that the majority of surface OH groups were replaced by nitrobenzamide silane groups. This reaction formerly carried out on silica gel surfaces, occurs here to a larger extent because of the lack of porosity, and because of the basic nature of the Ca(OH)2 hydroxide groups. The reaction only occurs on the free surface of the crystallites leaving their morphology largely intact. This example of a functionalised calcium hydroxide composite has been characterised by spectroscopic and thermal methods, and by scanning electron microscopy.