Method of making a sheet of building material

Abstract

A method of making a sheet of building material, useful for roofing or siding applications, and the sheet material made by such method. A mixture of a thermoplastic resin and mineral filler is prepared, the resin comprising about 10% to 40% by weight of the mixture and the filler comprising about 60% to 90% by weight. The mixture is mixed at a temperature above the melting point of the resin and is formed into a sheet at such temperature. The sheet is allowed to cool until the surface is at a temperature below the midpoint of the melting range of the thermoplastic resin, e.g. in the range of 210 to 220 degrees F. (99 to 104 degrees C.), for polyethylene, at which point it is strained by passing it through calendering rollers. The sheet material made by this process, having a high concentration of mineral filler, is fire resistant, durable, ductile, of moderate weight and resistant to weathering. It can be produced using relatively inexpensive manufacturing equipment. The sheet material can incorporate a high proportion of recycled resin, such as recycled high density polyethylene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.