Abstract:
The invention provides a weatherable low gloss styrene copolymer composition which requires the addition of from 0.1 to 20 % by weight of the total composition, of a partially crystalline polymer such as a polyalkylterephthalate, especially polybutyleneterephthalate or polyethyleneterephthalate, or polyethylenenaphthalate to a styrene copolymer (A). The low gloss styrene copolymer composition of the invention has a graft copolymer resin which results from polymerizing one or more monomers (A1) selected from the group consisting of (i) aromatic vinyl compounds, (ii) ethylenically unsaturated compounds, and (iii) mixtures thereof, in the presence of an elastomeric rubber (A2) in particulate form. The elastomeric rubber (A2) in particulate form results from polymerizing one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (i) alkyl acrylates having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, (ii) butadiene, (iii) olefin compounds, (iv) ethylenically unsaturated compounds, (v) aromatic vinyl compounds, (vi) polyfunctional monomers having a crosslinking effect, and (vii) mixtures thereof. The invention further provides a method of reducing the surface gloss of a styrene copolymer resin by adding to a styrene copolymer resin (A), from 0.1 to 20 % by weight of a partially crystalline polymer such as a polyalkylterephthalate (B), based on the total weight of the composition. The invention also provides a composite suitable for use as exterior siding for a structure, the composite comprising at least one interior layer (I) comprising a thermoplastic resin, and at least one exterior layer (II) having a low gloss styrene copolymer comprising the low gloss styrene copolymer composition of the invention, wherein exterior layer (II) is continuous and coextensive with interior layer (I).