Poly(arylene ether) composition and method of molding

1. A low gloss thermoplastic composition comprising poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein after molding the composition has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein after molding the composition has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 50.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein after molding the composition has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin comprises about 70 to about 95 weight percent of the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and about 5 to about 30 weight percent of the rubber modifier.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin comprises a rubber phase having rubber particles with an average size of about 0.5 to about 4.9 micrometers in diameter.

7. The composition of claim 1 further comprising polycarbonate.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polymer gel is about 0.1 to about 5% crosslinked.

9. The composition of claim 1 further comprising polysiloxane microspheres.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the polysiloxane microspheres having a size distribution of about 0.5 to about 10 micrometers.

11. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a visual effects additive.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the visual effects additive comprises aluminum flake with an average particle size of about 5 to about 300 micrometers.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the visual effects additive comprises aluminum flake with an average particle size of about 5 to about 50 micrometers.

14. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing agent.

15. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a flame retardant.

16. The composition of claim 1 further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, mold release agents, UV absorbers, stabilizers, light stabilizers, lubricants, plasticizers, anti-static agents, blowing agents and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

17. A method of molding an article having low gloss comprising molding a composition comprising poly(arylene ether), an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel, and a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin at a melt temperature less than or equal to about 290° C. wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 50.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising using a mold temperature is less than or equal to about 90° C.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising using an injection velocity of less than or equal to about 10.2 centimeters per second.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one visual effects additive.

23. A method of molding an article having low gloss comprising molding a composition comprising poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, and a flame retardant, at a melt temperature less than or equal to about 221° C. wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 50.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising using a mold temperature less than or equal to about 65° C.

27. The method of claim 23 , further comprising an injection velocity of less than or equal to about 10.2 centimeters per second.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the composition further comprises an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.

29. The method of claim 23 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one visual effects additive.

30. A method of molding an article having low gloss comprising molding a composition comprising poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel at a melt temperature of about 260 to about 315° C. wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 50.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

33. The method of claim 30 , further comprising using a mold temperature less than or equal to about 90° C.

34. The method of claim 30 , further comprising an injection velocity of less than or equal to about 10.2 centimeters per second.

35. The method of claim 30 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one visual effects additive.

36. A method of molding an article having low gloss comprising molding a composition comprising poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a flame retardant, and an aciylonitrile containing polymer gel at a melt temperature of about 204° C. to about 232° C. wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 50.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

39. The method of claim 36 , further comprising using amold temperature less than or equal to about 65° C.

40. The method of claim 36 , further comprising an injection velocity of less than or equal to about 10.2 centimeters per second.

41. The method of claim 36 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one visual effects additive.

42. An article comprising poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and an acrylonitrile polymer gel wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 60.

43. The article of claim 42 wherein the 60° C. gloss value is less than or equal to about 50.

44. The article of claim 43 wherein the 60° C. gloss value is less than or equal to about 30.

45. The article of claim 42 further comprising polysiloxane microspheres.

46. The article of claim 42 further comprising aluminum flake having an average particle size of about 5 to about 50 micrometers.

47. The article of claim 46 wherein the article has a 60° C. gloss value less than or equal to about 30.

48. A low gloss thermoplastic composition consisting essentially of poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.

49. A low gloss thermoplastic composition consisting essentially of poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a fire retardant and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.

50. A low gloss thermoplastic composition consisting essentially of poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, at least one visual effects additive and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.

51. A low gloss thermoplastic composition consisting essentially of poly(arylene ether), a rubber-modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a fire retardant, at least one visual effects additive, and an acrylonitrile containing polymer gel.