The determining role of calcium carbonate on surface deformation during scratching of calcium carbonate-reinforced polyethylene composites

The scratch-induced surface damage of neat and calcium carbonate-reinforced high density polyethylene is described in terms of characteristics of scratch morphology and scratch deformation parameters. Under identical test conditions, calcium carbonate-reinforced high density polyethylene composites exhibit significantly reduced susceptibility to scratch deformation and stress whitening compared to neat high density polyethylene. The resistance to scratch deformation is discussed in terms of tensile modulus, elastic recovery, and scratch hardness.