Polymer/Calcium Carbonate Layered Thin-Film Composites

Formation of the nacre of a shell is mimicked here to synthesize layered polymer/calcium carbonate composites such as that shown in the Figure. The combination of insoluble chitin or chitosan solid matrices with soluble acidic macromolecules such as poly(acrylic acid) is used to induce thin-film crystallization of CaCO3 on the solid matrices. The polymorph formed can also be controlled employing this method.