Analysis method

An analysis method comprising:

• treating an elastomer composition comprising an elastomer component and fillers at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 800° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere or air atmosphere to obtain a sample;
• obtaining the shape, particle size, and particle size distribution of the fillers in the sample by using an electron microscope and analyzing electron microscopic images obtained by the electron microscope;
• estimating a chemical grade, amount, and mixing ratio of the fillers in the sample, the estimation being based on the shape, particle size, and particle size distribution of the fillers in the sample, and a comparison between the shape, particle size, and particle size distribution of the fillers in the sample and a shape, particle size, and particle size distribution of respective reference fillers obtained separately;
• estimating a number of chemical grades of each of the fillers in the sample based on a number of peaks in the particle size distribution of the respective fillers of the sample;
• identifying the chemical grades of each of the fillers by dividing the particle size distribution of the respective filler contained in he sample into fixed sections and when a proportion of particle sizes within a section falls within a range between a lower control limit (LCL) and an upper control limit (UCL) of a corresponding section in a particle size distribution of the respective reference fillers, the filler is marked with the respective chemical grade, and
• calculating a match rate by dividing a number of marked sections by a total number of evaluated sections in the particle size distribution.