NATURAL FILLERS-FILLED STYRENE MALEIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER COMPOSITES

The aim of this study was to determine morphological characterization, mechanical properties and thermal stability of natural fillers-filled styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer composites. SMA and cellulosic fillers including starch, a-cellulose, and ultrafine cellulose (UFC) were used to manufacture composites in thermal melting mixer. The morphology of natural fillers-filled SMA composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that natural fillers were dispersed within SMA matrix and there were some voids in the composites. It can be said that the voids occurred due to esterification reactions between matrix and fillers. Mechanical properties of the composites were determined with flexure test, tensile test and impact test. The results were showed that flexure and tensile strength and impact strength were decrease as adding the particles; whereas, both flexure and tensile modulus of elasticity (MOE) were increased to SMA/AC and then decreased to both SMA/UFC and SMA/Starch. Thermal stabilities of the composites were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and it was found that thermal stability of the composites was lower than the neat SMA. The interaction between SMA and natural fillers was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was said that FTIR curves of the composites generally were same to each one.