Impact modifier compositions which enhance the impact strength properties and lower the viscosity of melt processed plastics resins and methods of making said compositions

Impact modifier composition comprising

• a) at least one impact modifier consisting essentially of at least one methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene impact modifier and, optionally, at least one impact modifier selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) acrylic interpolymers comprising an elastomeric phase and a rigid phase, wherein the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer consists essentially of 50 to 99.95% by weight units of alkyl acrylate, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• 0.05 to 5.0% by weight units of polyfunctional monomer capable of forming a cross-linked elastomer, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• and, optionally, units of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylonitrile, alkylthioalkyl acrylates, alkoxyalkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, vinyl ethers, vinyl amides, vinyl esters, vinyl halides, and vinylidene halides;
• (ii) chloropolyethylene impact modifiers;
• and
• (iii) methylmethacrylate/acrylate/acrylonitrile impact modifiers;
• b) at least one mineral oil;
• and
• c) 0-50% by weight of one or more plastics resins.

Method of producing an impact modifier composition comprising mixing together:

• a) at least one impact modifier consisting essentially of at least one methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene impact modifier and, optionally, at least one impact modifier selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) acrylic interpolymers comprising an elastomeric phase and a rigid phase, wherein the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer consists essentially of 50 to 99.95% by weight units of alkyl acrylate, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• 0.05 to 5.0% by weight units of polyfunctional monomer capable of forming a cross-linked elastomer, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• and, optionally, units of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylonitrile, alkylthioalkyl acrylates, alkoxyalkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, vinyl ethers, vinyl amides, vinyl esters, vinyl halides, and vinylidene halides;
• (ii) chloropolyethylene impact modifiers;
• and
• (iii) methylmethacrylate/acrylate/acrylonitrile impact modifiers;
• b) at least one mineral oil;
• and
• c) 0-50% by weight of one or more plastics resins;
• wherein the ratio of mineral oil to impact modifier is in the range from 0.1:10 to 4:10.

Method of preparing an impact modified plastics resin, comprising combining one or more fist plastics resins with an impact modifier composition comprising

• a) at least one impact modifier consisting essentially of at least one methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene impact modifier and, optionally, at least one impact modifier selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) acrylic interpolymers comprising an elastomeric phase and a rigid phase, wherein the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer consists essentially of 50 to 99.95% by weight units of alkyl acrylate, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• 0.05 to 5.0% by weight units of polyfunctional monomer capable of forming a cross-linked elastomer, based on the weight of the elastomeric phase of the acrylic interpolymer;
• and, optionally, units of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylonitrile, alkylthioalkyl acrylates, alkoxyalkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, vinyl ethers, vinyl amides, vinyl esters, vinyl halides, and vinylidene halides;
• (ii) chloropolyethylene impact modifiers;
• and
• (iii) methylmethacrylate/acrylate/acrylonitrile impact modifiers;
• b) at least one mineral oil;
• and
• c) 0-50% by weight of one or more second plastics resins.