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 ductile fractures of composites with low density polyethylene matrix filled with inorganic particle fillers. Air-plasma treatment was shown to be a suitable procedure for the etching of the fracture surface when studying the filler distribution and dispersion in particle filled composites if the fracture of the studied material is cohesive, i.e., the crack initiates and proceeds through the polymer matrix and the filler particles are covered by polymer layer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.