Thermoplastic multilayer louver with a polished metal look

Abstract

Multilayered extruded thermoplastic profiles are disclosed. The profiles are useful for decorative extruded louvers exhibiting a polished metal-look. The metal-look is achieved by the use of a limited amount of powdered aluminum metal having particle size of 50 microns or less, combined with an effective amount of nacreous pigment. The invention provides a multi-layer extrudate having the appearance of polished metal in the appearance layer in combination with an opaque or clear base layer. The preferred embodiment is a co-extruded polyvinyl chloride. Preferably, the appearance layer comprises 100 weight parts of rigid polyvinyl chloride as the thermoplastic matrix, a combination of from 0.05 to about 4 parts by weight of aluminum particles having an average particle size of from 10-40 microns, from 0.1 to 5 weight parts of titanium dioxide coated mica pigment or colored version thereof, and optional organic or inorganic coloring pigment(s). Various other compounding components are preferably included in the appearance layer which do not interfere with the appearance and provide proper processing and physical properties. A limited melt processing window is available to sufficiently work the compound without destroying the pigments components. In a preferred embodiment a multilayered polished metal-look louver profile is made in a manner to provide consistency of quality, reduced material cost and improved melt processing properties by processing under conditions which do not destroy the visual effects of the combined dispersed pigment/metal powder components. Louvers exhibiting enhanced face-to-flop color change is made by incorporating micronized titanium dioxide, aluminum powder, and nacreous pigment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.