Plasma treatment of particulate polymer composites for analysis by scanning electron microscopy: I. Morphology of silica filled low density polyethylene

Scanning electron microscopy was used for investigation of brittle and duct ile fractures of composites with low density polyethylene matrix filled wit h inorganic particle fillers. Air-plasma treatment was shown to be a suitab le procedure for the etching of the fracture surface when studying the fill er distribution and dispersion in particle filled composites if the fractur e of the studied material is cohesive, i.e., the crack initiates and procee ds through the polymer matrix and the filler particles are covered by polym er layer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.