Surface characterization of heat-treated wood filled styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) composites

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of thermal treatment on the surface properties of heat treated wood flour filled Styrene Maleic Anhydride (SMA) composites. SMA is an engineering polymer in the automotive for interior and exterior construction applications by injection molding and thermoforming. The heat-treatment of the pine wood was performed at 212 oC for 8 h. The SMA polymer was filled with untreated or thermally treated wood flour from 0 to 50 wt%. After the extrusion process by twin screw extruder, the specimens were produced by injection molding machine. As a results, the surface roughness values of the filled SMA composites increased with increasing with heat treated loading filler. Similarly, the wettability of heat treated wood flour SMA composites increased with increasing content of the wood flour.