Acrylate-styrene-acrylonitrile composition and method of making the same

A process for the formation of a thermoplastic composition having impact and weather resistance which comprises a crosslinked acrylate elastomer, a crosslinked styreneacrylonitrile copolymer and a linear styrene-acrylonitrile, copolymer, said process comprising:

• 1. formation of a composition which comprises a crosslinked acrylate elastomer and a crosslinked styrene-acrylonitrile polymer by:
• a i. emulsion polymerization of at least one alkyl acrylate monomer in the presence of at least one crosslinking agent and
• a ii. emulsion polymerization of styrene, acrylonitrile, and at least one crosslinking agent in the presence of the reaction product of 1 a i.;
• or
• b i. emulsion polymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile, in the presence of at least one crosslinking agent and
• b ii. emulsion polymerization of at least one alkyl acrylate monomer and at least one crosslinking agent in the presence of the reaction product of 1 b i.;
• and
• 2. either emulsion or suspension polymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile in the absence of a crosslinking agent in the presence of the reaction product of (1).