Polymeric articles having a textured surface and frosted appearance

1. An extruded polymeric article having a frosted and textured surface appearance comprised of a polymeric matrix and polymeric particles which are substantially spherical, highly crosslinked, have a mean particle size of between 35 to 70 micrometers and have a particle size distribution between 10-110 micrometers wherein the article has:

a) a Haze number as determined by ASTM D1003 of at least 90%,

b) an opacity as determined by ASTM D2805-80 of at least 10%,

c) a minimum surface roughness of 0.5 micrometers to 30 micrometers as measured using ASME methods B461.1 B461.2 and Y14.36; and

d) a Total White Light Transmission of greater than 77.1% for the clear form, as determinated by a Hunterlab colorimeter_D25 model using ASTM E1331 and ASTM E1164,

wherein said determinations are made using an 0.125 inch thick extruded sheet comprised of the polymeric matrix and polymeric particles;

wherein said highly crosslinked polymeric particles arc comprised of:

15-35% by weight styrene;

65-85% by weight alkyl methacrylate or alkyl acrylate or a combination thereof; and

0.1-2.5% by weight crosslinking agent.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the polymeric matrix is an acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene terpolymer, acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylate copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, methyacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymer, high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile/acrylate copolymer, polystyrene, styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, methylmethacrylate/styrene copolymer, an acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate copolymer, impact modified polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride), impact modified poly(vinyl chloride), imidized acrylic polymer, acrylic polymer or impact modified acrylic polymer.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein the polymeric matrix is comprised of polymethyl methacrylate.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein a frosted appearance is achieved through the mismatch of the refractive indices of the polymeric particles and polymeric matrix by greater than 0.02.

5. The article of claim 1 comprised of

a) 20-90% by weight, polymethyl methacrylate or alkyl methylacrylate/alkyl acrylate copolymer matrix;

b) 0-50% by weight, modifiers; and

c) 5-60% by weight, highly crosslinked spherical polymeric particles comprised of about 15-35% by weight, styrene; 65-85% by weight, alkyl methacrylate, or alkyl acrylate or a combination thereof; and 0.1-2.5% by weight crosslinking agent.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the crosslinking agent is ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, divinylbenzene or alkyl methacrylate.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein the crosslinking agent is divinylbenzene.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein the crosslinking agent is allylmethacrylate.

9. The article of claim 6 wherein the polymeric particles contain a colorant.

10. A resin comprised of:

a) 60-85% by weight, matrix comprised of polymethyl methacrylate; and

b) 5-60% by weight, highly crosslinked spherical polymeric particles comprised of:

15-35% by weight, styrene

65-85% by weight, methyl methacrylate

0.5-1.5% by weight, alkyl methacrylate;

wherein the polymeric particles have a mean particle size of 35-70 micrometers, and a particle size distribution of between 10-110 micrometers, and wherein a 0.125 inch thick sheet extruded from said resin, has a Haze number as determined by ASTM D1003 of at least 90%, an opacity as determined by ASTM D2805-80 would be at least 10%, a minimum surface roughness of 0.5 micrometers to 30 micrometers as measured using ASME methods B461.1 B36.1.2 and Y14.36 and a Total White Light Transmission of greater than 77.1% for the clear form measured by a Hunterlab colorimeter-D25 model using ASTM E1331 and ASTM E1164.

11. A resin comprised of:

a) 20-90% by weight, matrix comprised of polymethyl methacrylate or alkyl methylacrylate/alkyl acrylate copolymer;

h) 0-50% by weight, modifiers; and

c) 5-60% by weight, highly crosslinked spherical polymeric particles comprised of about 15 to 35% by weight, styrene, 65-85% by weight, alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, or a mixture thereof and crosslinking agent wherein the polymeric particles have a mean particle size of 35 -70 micrometers, and a particle size distribution of between 10-110 micrometers, and wherein a 0.125 inch thick sheet extruded from said resin, has a Haze number as determined by ASTM D1003 of at least 90%, an opacity as determined by ASTM D2805-80 would be at least 10%, a minimum surface roughness of 0.5 micrometers to 30 micrometers as measured using ASME methods B46.1.1 B36.1.2 and Y14.36 and a Total White Light Transmission of greater than 77.1% for the clear form measured by a Hunterlab colorimeter_D25 model using ASTM E1331 and ASTM E1164.