CURABLE CASTING COMPOUND FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MOLDED PLASTICS

Abstract

This invention relates to a curable casting compound for the manufacture of molded plastics, comprising a casting compound having a binder composition and a filler composition, wherein the filler composition has at least a first portion of an inorganic filler and a second portion of an organic filler, wherein the second portion of organic filler comprises comminuted nutshells—as a nutshell portion, in particular granular nutshells, having a percentage by weight of 1% by wt. to 100% by wt. of the filler composition.

Claims

1. A curable casting compound for the manufacture of molded plastics comprising a casting compound having a binder composition and a filler composition, wherein the filler composition has at least one inorganic filler and at least one organic filler, characterized in that the organic filler comprises comminuted nutshells as a nutshell portion, in particular granular nutshells, having a percentage by weight from 1% by wt. to 100% by wt. of the filler composition.

2. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the nutshell portion comprises 20% by wt. to 80% by wt., in particular 40% by wt. to 60% by wt. of the filler composition.

3. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the nutshell portion has at least one portion consisting of granular nutshells having an average diameter d.sub.50 relative to a weight of 200 to 10,000 μm, in particular 400 to 5,000 μm, preferably 500 to 1,000 μm.

4. The curable casting compound according to claim 3, characterized in that the nutshell portion has at least two portions of differing mean diameters d.sub.50 relative to weight.

5. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the nutshell portions comprise hazelnut shells and/or walnut shells, in particular predominantly walnut shells.

6. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one inorganic filler comprises quartz sand.

7. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the binder composition comprises at least one portion of at least one citrus fruit as citrus fruit portion, in particular of a peel of a citrus fruit.

8. The curable casting compound according to claim 7, characterized in that the content of citrus fruit portion relative to the binder composition is 0.1% by wt. to 10% by wt., in particular 0.2% by wt. to 5% by wt., preferably 0.2% by wt. to 5% by wt.

9. A curable casting compound according to claim 7, characterized in that the citrus fruit portion comprises the ingredient D-limonene and/or L-limonene and/or D,L-limonene.

10. The curable casting compound according to claim 1, characterized in that the binder composition comprises at least one portion of a liquid monomeric acrylate.

11. Use of a curable casting compound according to claim 1, for the manufacture of a molded plastic for the kitchen and/or sanitary sector, in particular kitchen sinks and countertops for kitchens.

12. A molded plastic manufactured using the curable molding mass according to claim 1.

13. Use of crushed nutshells for improving the cleaning properties of molded plastics, in particular having a percentage by weight of a casting compound of the molded plastics comprising a filler composition and a binder composition with a percentage by weight of 1% by wt. to 100% by wt. of the filler composition.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0065] A casting compound according to the invention, the composition of which largely matches that of the curable casting compound according to the comparative example, wherein an amount of nutshell granules is added in exchange for a matching amount of Granucol® white 2/9. In addition, an amount of binder was removed in exchange for an equivalent amount of D,L-limonene. The remaining amounts of materials are kept the same.

[0066] The composition of the curable casting compound in accordance with the example is shown in Table 2 below, wherein the contents of the individual components are specified in percent by weight, in each case in relation to 100kg of curable casting compound.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 2 Example Formulation designation [% by wt.] Binder (PMMA in MMA) 39.6 Trimethyipropane trimethacrylate 0.9 Peroxide mixture 1.0 D,L limonene 1.5 Nutshell granules 450-800 15.0 Nutshell granules 450-1000 15.0 Granucol ® white 2/9 25.0 Wollastonite 2.0 Total 100.0

[0067] Various chemicals and foods were then applied to a visible side of a kitchen sink obtained in this way, and each was left to act for 16 hours.

TABLE-US-00006 Stains still present after: Rinsing using Cleaning using Cleaning using Sample distilled water water Alumina Example none — —

TABLE-US-00007 Soot contamination Sample Cleanability - revolutions Example 10/10

TABLE-US-00008 Density (Accupyk) Sample [g/cm.sup.3] Example 1.37

[0068] A cleaning device having a contact weight of 1 kg and 30 rpm using water or Alumina was used for cleaning. When checking cleanability on the basis of soot contamination, two tests each were performed using the comparative example and the example. The number of revolutions was increased until the identical optical result was obtained in every case.

[0069] As a result, it shall be noted that for the same cleaning procedure it was easier to remove the soiling in the example as compared to the comparative example, i.e.

[0070] fewer revolutions of the cleaning device were required until a complete removal of the soot soiling was achieved. Finally, based on the determination of the respective weights of the kitchen sinks and their volumes or a corresponding comparable test specimen, a lower density was achieved for the example, compared to the comparative example.

[0071] The results thus show that replacing organic petrochemical fillers with granular nutshells in the curable casting compound results in a significant improvement in cleanability.

[0072] The kitchen sinks produced using the curable casting compound according to one embodiment of this invention have a lower weight or density and improved cleanability compared to the curable casting compound obtained in the comparative example.

[0073] I.e., the effect of improved cleanability occurs with the use of crushed nutshells according to the invention.

[0074] In summary, at least one embodiment of this invention provides at least one of the advantages listed below and/or provides at least one of the features listed below: [0075] Improved cleanability of the surface of molded plastics. [0076] Improved environmental compatibility, in particular lower CO2 generation during manufacture. [0077] High flexibility with regard to the visual design of surfaces.

[0078] Although this invention has been described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto and can be modified in a variety of ways.