Abstract: Well crystallized aragonite CaCO₃ whiskers of high aragonite phase content were prepared by one-step method with soluble phosphate as controller from Ca(OH)₂ suspension in common gravitational environment.Meanwhile, the effects of controller dosage, reaction temperature, CO₂ flow rate, and initial Ca(OH)₂ concentration on the product were investigated and analyzed.XRD spectra has revealed that it is Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH) rather than Ca(HPO₄)·2H₂O or Ca₃(PO₄₎₂ that is served as crystal nucleus leading to the formation of aragonite-type CaCO₃ whiskers. The conditions favorable to the growth of carbonate whiskers include n(Ca/P)=1∶0.25,a carbonization reaction temperature of 75 ℃,CO₂ flow rate of 16.2~32.4 L/(h·kg) and an initial Ca(OH)₂ concentration of 1.5 wt.%~5.6 wt.%.

Key words: Soluble phosphate, Calcium carbonate whiskers, Preparation