Microwave hydrothermal assisted preparation of CoAl2O4/kaolin hybrid pigments for reinforcement coloring and mechanical property of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Abstract CoAl2O4/kaolin hybrid pigments with high blue value were prepared via microwave hydrothermal assisted technique. The obtained hybrid pigments incorporated 60 wt% kaolin presented excellent color properties (L⁎ = 34.44, a⁎ = 16.73, b⁎ = −70.49) after being calcined at 900 °C, which was matched with the organic Phthalo Blue. In particular, the hybrid pigments could be well dispersed into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and the tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene increased by 27%, 48.7% and 50% as the added amount of CoAl2O4/kaolin hybrid pigments was 2 wt%, respectively. Therefore, the as-prepared hybrid pigment could be served as a coloring agent and reinforced materials for enhancement the mechanical and thermal stability properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Due to the favorable dispersion in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene matrix, hybrid pigments also were applied in 3D printing.