Polymer composition

Abstract

The invention relates to a composition with improved scratch and/or abrasion resistance and methods of their manufacture. Compositions for injection moulding, extrusion, (co)extrusion and/or thermoforming are described. The composition comprises (a) an acrylic (co)polymer and (b) a fatty acid amide. At least 30 wt % of the acrylic (co)polymer residues are residues of an alkacrylic acid or ester monomer such as methyl methacrylate and 0 to 70 wt % are residues of one or more other vinyl comonomers. A process for the production of a composition comprising the steps of melt blending the fatty acid amide with the acrylic (co)polymer or adding the fatty acid amide to the monomer during production of the acrylic (co)polymer. Use of the composition may be in injection moulding, extrusion or co-extrusion. Co-extruded laminates comprising a cap layer of the composition are also described.

Claims

1. A composition comprising: (a) an acrylic (co)polymer and (b) a fatty acid amide wherein at least 75 wt % of the acrylic (co)polymer residues are methyl methacrylate and 0 to 25 wt % are residues of one or more other vinyl comonomers and wherein the composition is free from copolymers of ethylene and at least one type of vinyl monomer other than such a copolymer that is an ethylene alpha olefin copolymer rubber or ethylene alpha olefin nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber, and wherein the fatty acid amide is present in an amount of between 1 and 10 wt % of the composition; and wherein the acrylic (co)polymer is present in the composition in an amount of at least 91 wt % of the composition.

2. A process for the production of a composition according to claim 1 comprising the steps: a. melt blending the fatty acid amide with the acrylic (co)polymer or b. adding the fatty acid amide to the monomer during production of the acrylic (co)polymer.

3. An acrylic chip or pellet for injection moulding, extrusion or co-extrusion comprising a composition according to claim 1.

4. A process for the production of a polymer article comprising the step: a. injection moulding, extruding or co-extruding a composition according to claim 1 to form a moulded article.

5. A co-extruded laminate comprising a cap layer comprising a composition according to claim 1.

6. A moulded acrylic article comprising a composition according to claim 1.

7. A co-extruded laminate according to claim 6, wherein the cap layer has a thickness of at least 50 μm.

8. A co-extruded laminate according to claim 6, wherein the cap layer has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

9. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the acrylic (co)polymer is present in the composition in an amount of between 91 and 99.9% by weight of the composition.

10. A composition according to claim 1, wherein at least 80 wt % of the residues of the acrylic (co)polymer are residues of methyl methacrylate.

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the other vinyl comonomer residues may be present in the acrylic (co)polymer in an amount of between 0.1 and 25 wt %.

12. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more other vinyl comonomers are selected from optionally substituted alkyl (alk)acrylate, (C1-C22)alkyl ((C0-C10)alk)acrylate, ((C0-C10)alk)acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, iso-butyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, iso-butyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, lauryl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate, stearyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, carboxyl functional (alk)acrylates, 2-carboxyethylacrylate, hydroxy-functional (alk)acrylates, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropylmethacrylate, hydroxypropylethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, sulpho esters, sulphonyl functional (alk)acrylates, 2-sulphoethylmethacrylate, amino functional (alk)acrylates, N′N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, N-t-butylaminoethyl methacrylate, N′,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, epoxy functional (alk)acrylates, glycidyl methacrylate, 1-(2-methacryloxyethyl) imidazolidin-2-one, acetoacetoxy functional (alk)acrylates, 2-aceto acetoxy ethylmethacrylate, carboxylic acids, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, vinyl compounds, styrene, alphamethylstyrene, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyridine, vinyl acetate, monomethyl maleate, monomethyl itaconate, monobutyl maleate, α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone, itaconic anhydride, maleic anhydride, allyl methacrylate, divinyl benzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate.

13. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the acrylic (co)polymer is an acrylic copolymer.

14. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid amide is present in an amount of between 1.5 and 10% by weight of the composition.

15. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of acrylic (co)polymer to fatty acid amide in the composition is between 99:1 and 90:10.

16. A composition according to claim 1, wherein at least 50% by weight of the fatty acid amides are according to Formula I:
R.sup.1—CO—NR.sup.2(R.sup.3)  Formula I wherein R.sup.1 is an optionally substituted C.sub.5 to C.sub.30 aliphatic group, wherein R.sup.1 may be linear or branched, saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated; and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted aliphatic, alicyclic and aryl groups; when R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is aliphatic then R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is linear or branched, saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.

17. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the monoamide according to Formula I is selected from one or more of dodecanamide, palmitamide, oleamide, stearamide, erucamide and behenamide.

18. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid amide comprises a second fatty acid amide between 0 and 50% by weight of the fatty acid amide content.

19. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of chip, pellet, moulded article or cap layer.

20. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the acrylic (co)polymer is melt processable.

21. A composition according to claim 20, wherein the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the acrylic (co)polymer is between 50,000 daltons and 250,000 daltons.

22. A process according to claim 4, wherein the acrylic (co)polymer is melt processable.

23. A process according to claim 22, wherein the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the acrylic (co)polymer is between 50,000 daltons and 250,000 daltons.

24. A process according to claim 2, wherein the fatty acid amide is selected from one or more of dodecanamide, palmitamide, oleamide, stearamide, erucamide and behenamide.

25. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the other vinyl comonomers are selected from methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) For the determination of molecular weight, samples are prepared in 2 ml autosampler vials at a concentration of the polymer of 1-2 mg/ml in THF or chloroform. The samples are agitated overnight to ensure complete dissolution. The samples are analysed using a Viscotek 302 with refractive index, viscosity and light scattering detectors and 2×300 mm PLgel 5 μm mixed C columns. The eluent is THF or chloroform with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and at a constant temperature of 35° C. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polystyrene standards can be used to calibrate the gel permeation chromatography equipment.

(2) Example compositions according to the present invention containing different types of acrylic (co)polymers with varied levels of stearamide were prepared, formed into an acrylic moulded product by injection moulding, extrusion or co-extrusion and tested for scratch and abrasion resistance. Comparative examples containing the acrylic (co)polymer but no fatty acid amide were also prepared and tested. The amide was compounded with the copolymer bead as follows:—

(3) Compounding Processing Conditions

(4) Extruder Werner & Pfleiderer ZSK30 Twin Screw Extruder

(5) L/D 35:1

(6) Zone Temperatures Z1=190, Z2=220, Z3=220, Z4=225, Z5=225, Z6=230° C. Screw Speed 271 rpm Output 13.9 kg/h Screw Profile General Purpose Twin Screw with Vacuum vent zone L/D=Length to diameter ratio of screw shaft.

(7) The injection moulded compositions are detailed in Table 1 for Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Examples 1 and 2.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Injection moulded compositions Stearamide % by Melt Flow Acrylic weight of Index (co)polymer composition g/10 mins Comparative 97% Methyl 0 4.5 example 1 Methacrylate (MMA) 3% Ethyl Acrylate(EA) Comparative 98.5% MMA/ 0 1.9 example 2 1.5% MA Example 1 97% MMA 2 7.1 3% EA Example 2 98.5% MMA/ 2 3.5 1.5% MA

(9) The examples in table 1 had Mw as follows—example 1 and comparative example 1 (90K), example 2 and comparative example 2 (90K). The stearamide in solid pellet form was blended with the acrylic (co)polymer and the resulting mixture was then melt processed through an extruder. The granules obtained were injection molded into plaques (75 mm×50 mm×3 mm) for scratch and abrasion testing.

(10) Scratch Testing

(11) Using a Taber Linear Abrader (Model 5750) with a 1 mm Hemisphere Scratch Tip and load variants of 5N, 10N, 15N, 20N and 25N, a 30 mm scratch was made across the example plaque at a speed of 60 cycles per minute. The appearance of a scratch was determined both by visual eye and microscopy. The results can be found in Table 2.

(12) Abrasion Testing

(13) Using a Taber Linear Abrader (Model 5750) with a 16 mm diameter Crockmeter attachment and a fixed load of 9N, various cloth materials were rubbed across the example plaques at 40 strokes per minute. The samples are scratched/abraded 24 hrs after exposure to air. Using visual eye, the number of strokes required to form abrasion was recorded. The test was stopped at 200 strokes. The cloth materials used were AATCC Crockmeter square test cloth and Martindale Abrasion Cloth (SM25). The results can be found in Table 2.

(14) Flexural modulus and Charpy impact strength were also tested for example 1 and comparative example 1. The results can be found in Table 3.

(15) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Crockmeter Martindale Test Cloth Abrasion Scratch (AATCC) Cloth (SM25) Resistance Comparative Abrasion Abrasion Scratch visible example 1 visible at visible at at 5N load 20 strokes 15 strokes Comparative Abrasion Abrasion Scratch visible example 2 visible at visible at at 15N load 60 strokes 60 strokes Example 1 None after None after No scratch 200 strokes 200 strokes visible at 25N load Example 2 None after None after No scratch 200 strokes 200 strokes visible at 25N load

(16) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Results Flexural Modulus Charpy Impact Strength (GPa) (kj/m.sup.2) Comparative example 1 3.2 18 Example 1 3.5 19

(17) Tables 1-15 herein contain injection moulded results. In all these examples injection moulding was carried out under the conditions as follows:—

(18) Moulding Conditions for Injection Moulding IJM Machine: Demag D40 Moulding Machine Screw Speed: 20 rpm Injection Speed/Time: 30%/1 s Back Pressure: 5 bar Holding Pressure/Time: 38 bar/15 s Zone Temperatures: Z.sub.1=220, Z.sub.2=230, Z.sub.3=235, Nozzle=240, Mould=60° C.

(19) Test results for examples 3-7 are given in Table 4. The examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 90% methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 10% butyl acrylate (BA) with different levels of stearamide, and a Mw of 90K.

(20) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 3 0 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 5N load Example 4 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 5 2 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 6 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 7 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(21) The test results for examples 8-12 are given in Table 5. The examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 85% MMA and 15% BA with different levels of stearamide.

(22) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Injection Moulding Results Stearamide % by weight of Scratch composition Resistance Example 8 0 Clear scratch visible at 5N load Example 9 2 Faint scratch visible at 10N load Example 10 5 No scratch visible at 25N load Example 11 10 No scratch visible at 25N load

(23) The test results for examples 12-16 are given in Table 6. The examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 97% MMA and 3% Ethyl Acrylate (EA) with different levels of stearamide. The examples had a Mw of 145K.

(24) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 12 0 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 13 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 15N load Example 14 2 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 15 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 16 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(25) The test results for examples 17-21 are given in Table 7. These examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 95% MMA and 5% EA with different levels of stearamide. The examples had a Mw of 130K.

(26) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 17 0 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 18 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 15N load Example 19 2 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 20 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 21 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(27) The test results for examples 22-26 are given in Table 8. These examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 98.5% MMA and 1.5% methyl acrylate (MA) with different levels of stearamide and a MW of 90K.

(28) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 4 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 22 0 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N/15N load Example 23 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N/15N load Example 24 2 No Very slight No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 25 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 26 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(29) The test results for examples 27-31 are given in Table 9. These examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 90% MMA and 10% MA with different levels of stearamide and a MW of 92K.

(30) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 27 0 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N/15N load Example 28 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N/15N load Example 29 2 No Slight No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 30 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 31 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(31) The test results for examples 32-36 are given in Table 10. These examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 87% MMA and 13% MA, with different levels of stearamide and a MW of 80K.

(32) TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 5 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 32 0 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N/15N load Example 33 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 15N load Example 34 2 No Slight No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 35 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 36 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(33) The test results for examples 37-41 are given in Table 11. The examples are an acrylic (co)polymer derived from 97% MMA and 3% EA, with different levels of stearamide. The examples had a Mw of 90K.

(34) TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Injection Moulding Results Abrasion Resistance Stearamide Crockmeter Crockmeter % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 37 0 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 5N load Example 38 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 39 2 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 40 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 41 10 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load # Example 39 is equivalent to example 1

(35) Further examples 42-62 were prepared using different fatty acid amides. The results for the respective fatty acid amides at different levels are shown in Tables 12-17. In examples 42-62, the acrylic (co)polymer is derived from 97% methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 3% ethyl acrylate (EA). The examples had a Mw of 90K.

(36) TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 Injection Moulding Results (Lauramide) Lauramide Abrasion Resistance Saturated Crockmeter Crockmeter (C12) % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 42 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 5N load Example 43 1 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 15N load Example 44 2 No Very slight No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 45 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(37) TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 13 Injection Moulding Results (Palmitamide) (Palmit- amide) Abrasion Resistance Saturated Crockmeter Crockmeter (C16) % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 46 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 47 1 Slight Slight Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 48 2 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 49 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(38) TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 14 Injection Moulding Results (Oleamide) (Oleamide) Abrasion Resistance Unsaturated Crockmeter Crockmeter (C18) % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 50 0.5 Slight Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 5N load

(39) TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 15 Injection Moulding Results (Erucamide) (Erucamide) Abrasion Resistance Unsaturated Crockmeter Crockmeter (C22) % by Test Cloth Test Cloth weight of (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch composition 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 51 0.5 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 52 1 Significant Significant Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 10N load Example 53 2 Slight Slight Faint scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 15N load Example 54 5 No No No scratch abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load

(40) Various co-extruded compositions were tested with the composition of the invention used as the cap layer and ABS used as the substrate. Various thicknesses of a 97% MMA/3% EA polymer at two different molecular weights were tested with and without 5% w/w stearamide and compositions and results are detailed in Tables 16-19. The co-extrusion conditions were as follows:—

(41) Co-Extrusion Processing Conditions

(42) Extruder (ABS): Single Screw Bone Craven Extruder

(43) Screw Speed: 25 rpm

(44) Screw Diameter: 1.75 in

(45) Zone Temperatures ° C.: Z1=200, Z2=225, Z3=240, Die(Top)=240, Die (Bottom)=240

(46) Screw Profile: General Purpose Single Screw

(47) Extruder (Acrylic): Single screw Betol Extruder

(48) Screw Speed: 8-12 rpm

(49) Screw Diameter: 1 in

(50) Zone Temperatures ° C.: Z1=190, Z2=215, Z3=230, Adaptor=215

(51) Roll Stack: Killion 3 Roll Stack

(52) Roll Temperatures ° C.: Top Roll=100, Middle Roll=85, Bottom Roll=75

(53) Line Speed: 0.5 m/min

(54) Screw Profile: General Purpose Single Screw

(55) TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 16 Co-extruded cap layer compositions Stearamide Melt Flow % by weight Index of Cap Base of the acrylic cap thickness Polymer composition composition Substrate Mw (μm) Example 55 97% 5 4.4 ABS 145K 70 MMA 3% EA Example 56 97% 5 4.4 ABS 145K 150 MMA 3% EA Example 57 97% 5 4.4 ABS 145K 250 MMA 3% EA Example 58 97% 5 4.4 ABS 145K 500 MMA 3% EA Example 59 97% 5 4.4 ABS 145K 800 MMA 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 0.9 ABS 145K 70 Example to MMA example 55 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 0.9 ABS 145K 150 Example to MMA example 56 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 0.9 ABS 145K 250 Example to MMA example 57 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 0.9 ABS 145K 500 Example to MMA example 58 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 0.9 ABS 145K 800 Example to MMA example 59 3% EA

(56) Abrasion Testing

(57) Using a Taber Linear Abrader (Model 5750) with a 16 mm diameter Crockmeter attachment and a fixed load of 9N, various cloth materials were rubbed across the samples at 40 strokes per minute. The samples are scratched/abraded 24 hrs after exposure to air. Using visual eye, the appearance of damage after 400 strokes was recorded. The cloth materials used were AATCC Crockmeter square test cloth and Martindale Abrasion Cloth (SM25).

(58) Scratch Testing

(59) Using a Taber Linear Abrader (Model 5750) with a 1 mm Hemisphere Scratch Tip and load variants of 5N, 10N, 15N, 20N and 25N, a 60 mm scratch was made across the sample specimen at a speed of 60 cycles per minute. The samples are scratched/abraded 24 hrs after exposure to air. The appearance of a scratch was determined both by visual eye and microscopy. The scratch and abrasion results for the various compositions can be found in Tables 17, 19, 20 and 21.

(60) TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 17 Co-extruded - cap layer performance results Abrasion Resistance Crockmeter Crockmeter Crockmeter Test Cloth Test Cloth Test Cloth (AATCC) (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch 100 Strokes 200 Strokes 500 Strokes Resistance Example 55 No Slight Significant Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 5N load Example 56 No Slight Significant Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 15N load Example 57 No No Slight Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 25N load Example 58 No No Slight No Scratch abrasion abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Example 59 No No No No Scratch abrasion abrasion abrasion visible at 25N load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 5N Example 55 load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at Example 56 10N load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example 57 abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 10N load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at Example 58 15N load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at Example 59 15N load

(61) TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 18 Co-extruded cap layer compositions Stearamide Melt Flow % by weight Index of Cap Base of the acrylic cap thickness Polymer composition composition Substrate Mw (μm) Example 60 97% 5 14.5 ABS 90K 70 MMA 3% EA Example 61 97% 5 14.5 ABS 90K 150 MMA 3% EA Example 62 97% 5 14.5 ABS 90K 250 MMA 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 4.6 ABS 90K 70 Example to MMA Example 60 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 4.6 ABS 90K 150 Example to MMA Example 61 3% EA Comparative 97% 0 4.6 ABS 90K 250 Example to MMA Example 62 3% EA

(62) TABLE-US-00019 TABLE 19 Co-extruded results - cap layer performance Abrasion Resistance Crockmeter Crockmeter Crockmeter Test Cloth Test Cloth Test Cloth (AATCC) (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch 100 Strokes 200 Strokes 500 Strokes Resistance Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 5N Example 60 load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at Example 61 10N load Comparative Slight Significant Significant Visible Example to abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at Example 62 10N load Example 60 Slight Significant Significant Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 5N load Example 61 No Slight Significant Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 15N load Example 62 No No Slight Visible abrasion abrasion abrasion Scratch at 25N load

(63) Two extruded polymer compositions (95% MMA/5% EA and 97% MMA/3% EA) were tested at various levels of stearamide. The extruded compositions and results are shown below in Tables 20 and 21. The extrusion conditions were as follows:—

(64) Single Extrusion Processing conditions

(65) Extruder (Acrylic): Single Screw Bone Craven Extruder

(66) Screw Speed: 25 rpm

(67) Screw Diameter: 1.75 in

(68) Zone Temperatures ° C.: Z1=190, Z2=215, Z3=230, Die(Top)=230, Die (Bottom)=230

(69) Screw Profile: General Purpose Single Screw

(70) Roll Stack: Killion 3 Roll Stack

(71) Roll Temperatures ° C.: Top Roll=100, Middle Roll=85, Bottom Roll=75

(72) Line Speed: 0.5 m/min

(73) TABLE-US-00020 TABLE 20 Extruded compositions and results Abrasion Resistance stearamide Melt Flow Crockmeter Crockmeter % by weight Index of Test Cloth Test Cloth Base of the acrylic (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch Polymer composition composition Mw 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 63 95% 0 1.7 130K Slight Significant Faint MMA abrasion abrasion Scratch 5% EA visible at 15N load Example 64 95% 1 2.2 130K No abrasion Slight Faint MMA abrasion Scratch 5% EA visible at 15N load Example 65 95% 2 3 130K No abrasion No abrasion No MMA Scratch 5% EA visible at 25N load Example 66 95% 5 6.4 130K No abrasion No abrasion No MMA Scratch 5% EA visible at 25N load

(74) TABLE-US-00021 TABLE 21 Extruded compositions and results Abrasion Resistance stearamide Melt Flow Crockmeter Crockmeter % by weight Index of Test Cloth Test Cloth Base of the acrylic (AATCC) (AATCC) Scratch Polymer composition composition Mw 100 Strokes 200 Strokes Resistance Example 67 97% 0 0.9 145K Slight Significant Faint MMA abrasion abrasion Scratch 3% EA visible at 15N load Example 68 97% 0.5 1 145K Slight Slight Faint MMA abrasion abrasion Scratch 3% EA visible at 15N load Example 69 97% 1 1.1 145K No abrasion Slight Faint MMA abrasion Scratch 3% EA visible at 15N load Example 70 97% 2 1.5 145K No abrasion No abrasion No MMA Scratch 3% EA visible at 25N load Example 71 97% 5 3.6 145K No abrasion No abrasion No MMA Scratch 3% EA visible at 25N load

(75) Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

(76) All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

(77) Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

(78) The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.