Investigation of maleic anhydride effect on wood plastic composites behavior

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of maleic anhydride on mechanical properties of wood plastic composites using acoustic emission monitoring and wavelet analysis. Wood plastic composite samples were prepared by combining olive wood sawdust as reinforcing material with volume fraction of 40 wt% up to 60 wt% with polyethylene as matrix phase. Maleic anhydride with weight ratio of 1 to 3% as a coupling agent and stearic acid with weight ratio of 1% as a lubricant agent were used in all the compounds. Wood plastic composite samples were manufactured using extrusion and injection molding process in accordance with ASTM D638. Once specimens were produced, tensile tests were carried out in order to characterize their tensile properties. Results demonstrated that wood plastic composite sample containing 40 wt% sawdust and 3 wt% maleic anhydride possesses highest tensile strength. This experimental work established the criteria for the lower amount of reinforcement material and higher amount of compatibilization agent in improving mechanical properties. Failure micro-mechanisms were characterized by wavelet analysis of acoustic emission data. Ultimately, the experimental tests were proved by the scanning electron microscope observations.