Plasma treatment of particulate polymer composites for analyses by scanning electron microscopy II. A study of highly filled polypropylene/calcium carbonate composites

Plasma treatment of fracture surfaces from particulate calcium carbonate/po lypropylene composites has been shown to have potential as a means for expo sing filler particles in the fracture surface, particularly where fracture occurs through the matrix, It has been found that the optimum time of plasm a treatment is governed by the nature of the matrix and possibly by the typ e og filler-matrix bond, This method of exposing filler particles in compos ite surfaces provides a very convenient aid in the process of characterisin g filler particle sies distributions and composite homogeneity/heterogeneit y. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights Reserved.