Properties of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers containing wood-based fillers

Recycled newsprint (ONP) and dry process aspen fiber were combined with styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers containing either 7 or 14 percent maleic anhydride. The fiber-filled SMA composites were equivalent or superior to unfilled SMA in strength, stiffness, and notched Izod impact strength. ONP performed surprisingly well as a filler. Unnotched Izod impact strengths for filled polymers were lower than for unfilled polymers. Water sorption was similar among fillers, and was small compared with solid wood.