Quantitative evaluation of fillers dispersion state in CaCO3/polypropylene composites through visualization and fractal analysis

The dispersion state of fillers in the polymer matrix is an important factor to determine the properties of the polymer composites. Here, a new method for the accurate quantitative evaluation dispersion state of fillers through three-dimensional (3D) visualization and fractal analysis is reported. First of all, the data model of the dispersed state of the fillers is obtained through 3D visualization techniques. Then the fractal dimensions of different samples are obtained by software based on the fractal theory. As the filler increases, the fractal dimension is firstly decreases to a minimum and then increases. Under this extreme point condition, the theoretical dispersion state of the fillers is uniform. The accurate quantitative description of the dispersion state provides a new basis for establishing the relationship between the dispersion state and the mechanical properties of the fillers in various composites.