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

摘要

Plasma treatment of fracture surfaces from particulate calcium carbonate/polypropylene composites has been shown to have potential as a means for exposing filler particles in the fracture surface, particularly where fracture occurs through the matrix. It has been found that the optimum time of plasma treatment is governed by the nature of the matrix and possibly by the type of filler-matrix bond. This method of exposing filler particles in composite surfaces provides a very convenient aid in the process of characterising filler particle size distributions and composite homogeneity/heterogeneity.