MIXTURES CONTAINING OXAMIDE-FUNCTIONAL SILOXANES AND ORGANIC FIBERS

Abstract

Mixtures along with processes for making and uses for the same. The mixtures include organosilicon compounds, organic fibers, and/or thermoplastic polymers. The mixtures may optionally include polyolefins substituted by carboxylic acid anhydride groups and/or additives.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A mixture, comprising: (A) organosilicon compounds of the general formula (I)
R.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSi[OSiR.sub.2].sub.p[OSiRR.sup.2].sub.q[OSiR.sup.2.sub.2].sub.rOSiR.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.b(I), wherein R may be identical or different and is a monovalent, optionally substituted, SiC-bonded hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.1 may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.2 is a SiC-bonded unit of the general formula
R.sup.3X[CO(CO).sub.n]XR.sup.4(II) wherein X may be identical or different and is O or NR.sup.x; wherein R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having at least 6 carbon atoms; wherein R.sup.4 are divalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms or NR.sup.z; wherein R.sup.x may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein R.sup.z may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein n is 0 or 1; wherein a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein b is 0 or 1; wherein p is an integer from 1 to 1000; wherein q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; wherein r is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; and wherein a+b is ?3 and at least one R.sup.2 radical is present; (B) organic fibers; (C) thermoplastic polymers; and optionally (D) polyolefins substituted by carboxylic acid anhydride groups.

14. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the organosilicon compounds of the formula (I) have a number-average molecular weight Mn of 1000 g/mol to 35 000 g/mol.

15. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the proportion of the organosilicon compounds (A) in the mixture is between 100 ppm by weight and 20 000 ppm by weight.

16. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the component (C) is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) or mixtures thereof.

17. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the component (B) is wood.

18. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the proportion of organic fibers (B) in the mixture is between 30 and 90% by weight.

19. The mixture of claim 13, further comprising: (E) flame retardants, (F) biocides, (G) pigments, (H) UV absorbers, (I) HALS stabilizers, (J) inorganic fibers, (K) lubricants and/or adhesion promoters (L).

20. The mixture of claim 13, wherein the mixture is an extrudable molding

21. A process for producing mixtures, comprising: providing a component (A) of organosilicon compounds of the general formula (I)
R.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSi[OSiR.sub.2].sub.p[OSiRR.sup.2].sub.q[OSiR.sup.2.sub.2].sub.rOSiR.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.b(I), wherein R may be identical or different and is a monovalent, optionally substituted, SiC-bonded hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.1 may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.2 is a SiC-bonded unit of the general formula
R.sup.3X[CO(CO).sub.n]XR.sup.4(II) wherein X may be identical or different and is O or NR.sup.x; wherein R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having at least 6 carbon atoms; wherein R.sup.4 are divalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms or NR.sup.z; wherein R.sup.x may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein R.sup.z may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein n is 0 or 1; wherein a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein b is 0 or 1; wherein p is an integer from 1 to 1000; wherein q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; wherein r is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; and wherein a+b is ?3 and at least one R.sup.2 radical is present; providing a component (B) of organic fibers; providing a component (C) of thermoplastic polymers; optionally providing a component (D) of polyolefins substituted by carboxylic acid anhydride groups; and mixing the individual components in any sequence.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein the composition is an extrudable molding

23. A composition (Z), comprising: (A) at least one organosilicon compound of the general formula (I),
R.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSi[OSiR.sub.2].sub.p[OSiRR.sup.2].sub.q[OSiR.sup.2.sub.2].sub.rOSiR.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.b(I), wherein R may be identical or different and is a monovalent, optionally substituted, SiC-bonded hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.1 may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.2 is a SiC-bonded unit of the general formula
R.sup.3X[CO(CO).sub.n]XR.sup.4(II) wherein X may be identical or different and is O or NR.sup.x; wherein R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having at least 6 carbon atoms; wherein R.sup.4 are divalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms or NR.sup.z; wherein R.sup.x may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein R.sup.z may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein n is 0 or 1; wherein a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein b is 0 or 1; wherein p is an integer from 1 to 1000; wherein q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; wherein r is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; and wherein a+b is ?3 and at least one R.sup.2 radical is present; (C1) thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymers; and optionally (Y) additives.

24. The composition (Z) of claim 23, wherein the composition (Z) is an extrudable molding

25. A process for producing compositions (Z), comprising: providing a component (A) of at least one organosilicon compound of the general formula (I),
R.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSi[OSiR.sub.2].sub.p[OSiRR.sup.2].sub.q[OSiR.sup.2.sub.2].sub.rOSiR.sub.3?a?b(OR.sup.1).sub.aR.sup.2.sub.b(I), wherein R may be identical or different and is a monovalent, optionally substituted, SiC-bonded hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.1 may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical; wherein R.sup.2 is a SiC-bonded unit of the general formula
R.sup.3X[CO(CO).sub.n]XR.sup.4(II) wherein X may be identical or different and is O or NR.sup.x; wherein R.sup.3 may be identical or different and are monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having at least 6 carbon atoms; wherein R.sup.4 are divalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms or NR.sup.z; wherein R.sup.x may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein R.sup.z may be identical or different and is a hydrogen atom or monovalent, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein individual carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms; wherein n is 0 or 1; wherein a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein b is 0 or 1; wherein p is an integer from 1 to 1000; wherein q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; wherein r is 0 or an integer from 1 to 100; and wherein a+b is ?3 and at least one R.sup.2 radical is present; providing a component (C1) of thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymers; optionally providing a component (Y) of additives; and mixing the individual components in any desired sequence.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the composition (Z) is mixed with a component (B), a component (C) and optionally one or more of components (D) to (L); wherein (D) is polyolefins substituted by carboxylic acid anhydride groups; wherein (E) flame retardants; wherein (F) biocides; wherein (G) pigments; wherein (H) UV absorbers; wherein (I) HALS stabilizers; wherein (J) inorganic fibers; wherein (K) lubricants; and wherein (L) adhesion promoters.

27. The process of claim 25, wherein the compositions (Z) produced are an extrudable molding.

Description

EXAMPLE 1 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH I)

[0282] 1.50 kg of silicone 2 were mixed with 8.50 kg of polymer EVA1 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.85 kg of Masterbatch I having a silicone 2 content of 15% by weight and 85% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 19% by weight.

EXAMPLE 2 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH II)

[0283] 1.50 kg of silicone 2 were mixed with 8.50 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.85 kg of Masterbatch II having a silicone 2 content of 15% by weight and 85% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight.

EXAMPLE 3 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH III)

[0284] 1.50 kg of silicone 2 and 1.5 kg of additive Y1 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA1 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.85 kg of Masterbatch III having a silicone 2 content of 15% by weight and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 19% by weight and 15% by weight of a further external lubricant Y1.

EXAMPLE 4 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH IV)

[0285] 1.50 kg of silicone 2 and 1.50 kg of ethoxylated additive Y2 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.87 kg of Masterbatch IV having a silicone 2 content of 15% by weight and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight and 15% by weight of a further external lubricant Y2.

EXAMPLE 5 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH V)

[0286] 3.00 kg of silicone 2 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.80 kg of Masterbatch V having a silicone 2 content of 30% by weight and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight.

EXAMPLE 6 NON-INVENTIVE (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH VI)

[0287] 3.00 kg of additive Y3 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 1.8 kg/h. This gave 9.65 kg of Masterbatch VI having an additive Y3 content of 30% by weight and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight.

EXAMPLE 7 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH VII)

[0288] 2.00 kg of silicone 2 and 1.00 kg of additive Y2 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.85 kg of Masterbatch VII having a silicone 2 content of 20% by weight, 10% by weight of additive Y2 and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight.

EXAMPLE 8 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH VIII)

[0289] 1.00 kg of silicone 2 and 2.00 kg of additive Y2 were mixed with 7.00 kg of polymer EVA2 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 9.85 kg of Masterbatch VIII having a silicone 2 content of 10% by weight, 20% by weight additive Y2 and 70% by weight of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight.

EXAMPLE 9 (PREPARATION OF MASTERBATCH IX)

[0290] 1.0 kg of silicone 3 and 1.0 kg of additive Y2 were mixed with 4.70 kg of polymer EVA1 and compounded at a temperature of 120? C. in a counter-rotating ZK 25 twin-screw extruder from Collin (D-Ebersberg). The temperature in the feed area (zone 1) was 60? C., which was increased to 100? C. in zone 2 and to 120? C. in zone 3. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also at 120? C. and the nozzle was temperature-controlled at 110? C. The mixture was extruded as a strand which was then pelletized. The discharge rate was 2.2 kg/h. This gave 6.55 kg of Masterbatch IX having a silicone 3 content of 15% by weight, 15% by weight of additive Y2 and 70% of an EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 19% by weight.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Masterbatch I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX EVA 1 [kg] 8.5 7.0 4.7 EVA 2 [kg] 8.5 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 Silicone 2 [kg] 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 3.0 2.0 1.0 Silicone 3 [kg] 1.0 Additive Y1 [kg] 1.5 Additive Y2 [kg] 1.5 1.0 2.0 1.0 Additive Y3 [kg] 3.0 Sum of the individual 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 6.7 components [kg] Isolated amount of 9.85 9.85 9.85 9.87 9.80 9.65 9.85 9.85 6.55 granules [kg]

[0291] It can be seen that by combining appropriate carrier polymers (here EVA), the additives can be obtained either alone or in combination with other additives in relatively high concentrations as masterbatches (Z) in granular form.

EXAMPLES 10-26

[0292] Wood fiber compounds were produced with the components listed in Table 2 in the amounts stated therein (each in kg). The specified components were each independently metered in gravimetrically into a co-rotating ZSK 26 Mc twin-shaft kneader from Coperion (Stuttgart, DE) in zone 1. The temperature of zone 1 was 195? C., the temperature of zone 2 was 190? C., the temperature of zone 3 was 190? C., the temperature of zone 4 was 185? C. and the temperature of zone 5 was also 185? C. The nozzle temperature was 190? C. The polymer melt obtained was pelletized directly after nozzle discharge using an underwater pelletizing system from Econ (Weisskirchen/Traun, AT) at a cooling water temperature of 18? C. The discharge rate of the polymer mixture was 15 kg/h.

[0293] Example 26 is a non-inventive comparative example to illustrate the production of wood fiber compounds without lubricants.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Masterbatch IV 2 Masterbatch V 0.5 0.5 Masterbatch VI 2 Masterbatch VII 1.5 2.0 2.5 0.75 1.0 1.25 Masterbatch VIII 0.75 1.0 1.25 Polymer PE1 39.5 37.5 38.0 37.5 37.0 36.5 37.5 37.0 36.5 Fibers B1 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Polymer C1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Sum of the individual 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 components Isolated amount of 87 89 91 93 91 94 92 96 92 granules [kg]

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Example 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Masterbatch III 1.5 2.0 2.5 Masterbatch IV Masterbatch V Masterbatch VI Masterbatch VII Masterbatch VIII 1.5 2.0 2.5 Masterbatch IX 2.0 Polymer PE1 37.5 37.0 36.5 37.5 37.0 36.5 37.0 39 Fibers B1 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Polymer C1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sum of the individual 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 components Isolated amount of 91 89 93 90 94 93 94 95 granules [kg]

EXAMPLES 27-43

[0294] The polymer mixtures obtained in Examples 10-26 were gravimetrically metered into zone 1 of a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder (Battenfeld Cincinnati Austria, Fiberex K38) at 20 kg/h. The temperature of zone 1 was 195? C., the temperature of zone 2 was 170? C., the temperature of zone 3 was 180? C., the temperature of zone 4 was 180? C. and the temperature of zone 5 was also 180? C. The nozzle temperature was 190? C. The extruder rotational speed was 20 rpm. The melt temperature was ca. 190? C. in each case. The polymer melt obtained was extruded on exiting the nozzle as a profile having a width of 80 mm and a height of 25 mm, cooled to 32? C. by means of a cooling belt and cut to size.

[0295] Example 43 is a non-inventive comparative example.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Example 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Compound of example 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Extrusion parameters Spec. power [Wh/kg] 128 111 112 137 135 135.5 137 136.5 135 (Target < 140 Wh/kg) Extruder load [%] 36 31.5 32 39.0 39.0 39.0 39.0 38.5 38.5 Melt temperature in ? C. 178 175 177 178 178 178 175 176 175 Melt pressure [MPa] 77 100 85 86 89 89 89 89 85 Mechanical properties Density [g/cm.sup.3] 1.12 1.02 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.16 Flexural E-modulus [MPa] 2862 1587 1960 2992 3477 3359 3535 3524 3416 Flexural strength [MPa] 28.32 13.91 16.88 30.45 36.65 35.85 37.75 34.11 22.93 Impact resistance [N/mm.sup.2] n.d. 4.17 5.21 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. Water absorption after 7 days' storage n.d. 8.24 6.88 7.12 6.27 7.44 7.36 Water absorption after 28 days' n.d. 30.74 21.49 storage [%](target ? 15%) Visual assessment 4 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 2

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Example 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Compound of example 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Extrusion parameters Spec. power [Wh/kg] 139.00 136.00 138.50 140.50 135.00 136.00 135.0 158.0 (Target < 140 Wh/kg) Extruder load [%] 39.50 39.00 40.00 39.50 38.00 38.50 39.0 44.0 Melt temperature in ? C. 174 174.5 174.7 174.5 174.4 174.2 176.7 178.3 Melt pressure [MPa] 92 88.5 98 88 85.5 89 86 102 Mechanical properties Density [g/cm3] 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.15 Flexural E-modulus [MPa] 3481 3148 3245 3140 3210 3180 3358 3653 Flexural strength [MPa] 34 32.53 33.21 31.29 32.80 33.10 35.80 36.2 Impact resistance [N/mm.sup.2] n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. Water absorption after 7 days, 7.15 7.69 7.72 7.66 7.54 7.70 7.10 6.21 storage [%] Visual assessment 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 5

[0296] Without the use of lubricant compounds (e.g. non-inventive Example 43), significantly higher extrusion capacities are required and, above all, the dimensional stability of the extruded profile is poor, mainly because the profile splits at the edges, which leads to a poor visual assessment.

EXAMPLES 44-52

[0297] Wood fiber compounds were produced with the components listed in Table 6 in the amounts stated therein (each in kg). The specified components were each independently metered in gravimetrically into a co-rotating ZSK 26 Mc twin-shaft kneader from Coperion (Stuttgart, DE) in zone 1. The temperature of zone 1 was 195? C., the temperature of zone 2 was 190? C., the temperature of zone 3 was 190? C., the temperature of zone 4 was 185? C. and the temperature of zone 5 was also 185? C. The nozzle temperature was 190? C. The polymer melt obtained was extruded directly after nozzle discharge as a colored profile having a width of 80 mm and a height of 25 mm, cooled to 32? C. by means of a cooling belt and cut to size. The discharge capacity was 20 kg/h. Examples 44-46 are to be regarded as comparative examples and not according to the invention.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Example 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Masterbatch IV 1.5 2.0 1.5 2.0 1.5 2.0 Additive Y4 3.0 Additive Y5 4.0 Polymer PE1 40 35.0 34.0 36.5 36.0 Polymer PE2 36.5 36.0 37.5 37.0 Polymer C1 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 Fibers B1 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Sum of the individual 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 components Extrusion parameters Spec. power [Wh/kg] 146.5 131.00 137.00 135.00 135.50 137.00 136.50 135.00 139.00 Extruder load [%] 41.5 37.5 39.0 39.5 38.5 39.0 38.5 38.5 39.5 Melt temperature in ? C. 176 176 178 178 178 176 175 176 174 Mechanical properties Density 1.13 1.12 1.15 1.16 n.d. 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.15 Flexural E-modulus n.d. 2506 2992 3477 n.d. 3535 3524 3416 3481 [MPa] Flexural strength [MPa] n.d. 19.76 30.45 36.65 n.d. 37.75 34.11 22.93 34 Water absorption after n.d. 10.98 8.24 6.88 n.d. 6.27 7.44 7.36 7.15 7 days' storage Optical assessment of 5 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 the profiles

[0298] The mixtures of Examples 47 to 52 according to the invention are the polymer/natural fiber compounds that combine a strong reduction in power consumption during extrusion while at the same time maintaining low water absorption with very good mechanical properties and exhibit a good to very good profile surface.

EXAMPLES 53-55

[0299] Wood fiber compounds were produced with the components listed in Table 7 in the amounts stated therein (each in kg). The specified components were each independently metered in gravimetrically into a co-rotating ZSK 26 Mc twin-shaft kneader from Coperion (Stuttgart, DE) in zone 1. The temperature of zone 1 was 220? C., the temperature of zone 2 was 190? C., the temperature of zone 3 was 180? C., the temperature of zone 4 was 180? C. and the temperature of zone 5 was also 180? C. The nozzle temperature was 180? C. The polymer melt obtained was extruded directly after nozzle discharge as a colored profile having a width of 80 mm and a height of 25 mm, cooled to 32? C. by means of a cooling belt and cut to size. The discharge capacity was 20 kg/h. Example 53, in which no lubricant additives are used, is to be regarded as a comparative example and not according to the invention.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Example 53 54 55 Masterbatch IV 1.0 1.5 Polymer PP1 38 37.0 36.5 Polymer C2 2.0 2.0 2.0 Fibers B1 60 60 60 Sum of the individual components 100 100 100 Extrusion parameters Spec. power [Wh/kg] 153.5 135.00 136.00 Extruder load [%] 48 42 43 Melt temperature in ? C. 185 182 180 Mechanical properties Flexural E-modulus [MPa] 4410 3451 4325 Flexural strength [MPa] 53.2 38.9 52.1 Water absorption after 7 days' storage 2.8 3.9 3.1 Optical assessment of the profiles 5 2 1

[0300] It can be seen that Masterbatch IV also results in an improvement in the extrusion properties here, while at the same time maintaining good mechanical properties and a very good optical profile quality.

[0301] The flexural properties were determined in each case in accordance with EN ISO 178. The test speed was 3 mm/min, the number of samples measured was 6, the sample size was 80 mm?10 mm?4 mm.

[0302] The Charpy impact resistance (unnotched) was determined according to EN ISO 179. The impact pendulum had an impact energy of 0.5 J. The number of samples measured was 10. The sample size was 80 mm?10 mm?4 mm.

[0303] To determine the water absorption, 2 samples each having a dimension of 50 mm?50 mm?4 mm were stored at a temperature of 20?2? C. and with an immersion time of 7 days or 28 days in deionized water so that they were completely surrounded by the water. Prior to starting the storage in water, the samples were each dried in a drying cabinet at 80? C. for 72 hours. After the aforementioned immersion time, the samples are removed from the water bath and the water on the surface is blotted. The water absorption is calculated by establishing the quotient of the weight increase after storage in water and the original weight prior to storage in water.

[0304] The optical assessment of the manufactured profiles is based on a 6-stage system: 1=very good; 2=good; 3=satisfactory; 4=sufficient, 5=insufficient, 6=unsatisfactory.

[0305] The waviness of the manufactured profiles and the surface roughness and the edge precision were taken into account in the assessment.