The effect of the glass bead (GB) size and bead content on the fracture behavior of GB-filled linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites was evaluated by means of the essential work of fracture (EWF). The results indicated the specific EWF (w(e)) is lower for the composites than that of pure LLDPE and the obtained w(e) values do not show significant differences for the filled samples with different GB diameters. The non-EWF or plastic work (beta w(p)) also decreased with the addition of GBs, indicating that less energy is absorbed during the fracture process for the composites filled with different diameter GBs. For the composites filled with GBs of different contents, the w(e) decreased with increasing GB contents and the beta w(p) that was higher than that of pure LLDPE at relatively low, contents also decreased with the content of GBs. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.