Multifractal analysis of fracture morphology of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/carbon black conductive composite

In this paper, based on scanning electron microscope (SEM), the fracture morphology of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/carbon black (EVA/CB) conductive composite with various cross-linkers 2,4-di(2-phenylisopropyl) phenol (DCP) contents were analysed by multifractal analysis. The relationship among the multifractal spectrum, cross-linker DCP content, the fracture morphology, fracture process and some mechanical property were discussed. The results showed that the larger the width Delta alpha (Delta alpha = alpha(max) - alpha(min)) of the multifractal spectra f(alpha), the more nonuniform the fracture surface morphology, in other words, the more the roughness. Moreover, the width Delta alpha (Delta alpha = alpha(max) - alpha(min)) of the multifractal spectra f(alpha) is the result of competition between ductile fracture and brittle fracture. Also, some mechanical property will correspondingly change when various cross-linker DCP contents were added. Multifractal analysis showed that the spectrum width Delta alpha (Delta alpha = alpha(max) - alpha(min)) of the multifractal spectra f(alpha) could be used to characterize the surface morphology and mechanical property of EVA/CB conductive composite, quantitatively. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.