Methods for quantitative determination of filler weight fraction and filler dispersion degree in polymer composites: example of low-density polyethylene and NaA zeolite composite

Novel methods for the determination of filler weight fraction and filler dispersion degree in polymer composite have been established. The XRD and FTIR methods used for the determination of zeolite weight fraction are based on measurement of selected integral area of one of the XRD diffraction peaks and one of the FTIR absorption bands, respectively. Filler dispersion degree was determined from the calculation of weight fraction of zeolite in randomly selected points of composite sample. Powdery calibration mixtures of low-density polyethylene and NaA zeolite were prepared with the certain zeolite weight fraction ranging from 5 to 30 wt%. The XRD patterns and FTIR spectra of calibration mixtures were recorded. The effect of zeolite weight fraction on the integral area and full width on half maximum of the diffraction peaks and absorption bands of the NaA zeolite were evaluated. The composite samples in the form of plates which contains from 5 to 30 wt% of zeolite were prepared by the compression moulding technique. Weight fraction and dispersion degree of zeolite in the composite, as well as the errors for their determination, were established.