The dispersion states of fillers in the polymer matrix is an important factor to determine the properties of the polymer composites. Mastering the dispersion structure of inorganic minerals such as calcium carbonate in the polymer matrix is of great significance for the design of high performant polymer composites. Currently, due to the limitations of conventional electron microscope imaging capabilities, it is difficult to understand the internal dispersion structure of fillers in polymer composites comprehensively, regionally and stereoscopically. Here, we successfully embed the rare earth complex into the silica of the calcium carbonate surface to realize the fluorescent labeling of the calcium carbonate fillers. The fluorescent calcium carbonate exhibited broad excitation band ranging from 220 nm to 440 nm and showed bright red under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The two-dimensional dispersion states of the fillers at different depths in the polymer composite were obtained by the fluorescent imaging ability of laser scanning confocal microscope; these two-dimensional confocal images were further three-dimensionally reconstructed through Avizo Fire VSG software, and the spatial distribution of fillers in polymer composite was obtained without damage. This characterization method provides a new noninvasive method for studying the dispersion structure of fillers in polymers.

中文翻译：

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荧光碳酸钙的制备及其在聚丙烯中的分散状态的可视化

填料在聚合物基体中的分散状态是决定聚合物复合材料性能的重要因素。掌握无机矿物如碳酸钙在聚合物基体中的分散结构对于高性能聚合物复合材料的设计具有重要意义。目前，由于传统电子显微镜成像能力的限制，难以全面、区域和立体地了解聚合物复合材料中填料的内部分散结构。在这里，我们成功地将稀土配合物嵌入碳酸钙表面的二氧化硅中，实现了碳酸钙填料的荧光标记。荧光碳酸钙表现出220 nm至44​​0 nm的宽激发带，并在紫外光（365 nm）下呈亮红色。通过激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的荧光成像能力，获得了聚合物复合材料中不同深度处填料的二维分散状态；这些二维共焦图像通过 Avizo Fire VSG 软件进一步三维重建，得到了聚合物复合材料中填料的空间分布，无损。这种表征方法为研究聚合物中填料的分散结构提供了一种新的无创方法。通过激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的荧光成像能力，获得了聚合物复合材料中不同深度处填料的二维分散状态；这些二维共焦图像通过 Avizo Fire VSG 软件进一步三维重建，得到了聚合物复合材料中填料的空间分布，无损。这种表征方法为研究聚合物中填料的分散结构提供了一种新的无创方法。通过激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的荧光成像能力，获得了聚合物复合材料中不同深度处填料的二维分散状态；这些二维共焦图像通过 Avizo Fire VSG 软件进一步三维重建，得到了聚合物复合材料中填料的空间分布，无损。这种表征方法为研究聚合物中填料的分散结构提供了一种新的无创方法。