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 from greater than 5 percent to 60 weight percent of polymeric particles, wherein said polymeric particles are substantially spherical, highly crosslinked, have a mean particle size of between 35 and 70 micrometers, and have a particle size distribution between 10-110 micrometers, wherein the article has a Haze number as determined by ASTM D1003 of at least 90% and a minimum surface roughness of 0.5 micrometers to 30 micrometers as measured using ASME methods B461.1, B461.2 and Y14.36, and wherein said polymeric matrix and polymer particles have a mismatch of refractive indices in which the difference in refractive index between the polymeric matrix and polymer particles is greater than 0.015 and less than or equal to 0.025.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric matrix and polymer particles have a mismatch of reftactive indices in which the difference in refractive index between the polymeric matrix and polymer particles is greater than 0.02.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the beads have a mean particle size of 35-55 micrometers.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the polymeric matrix matrix is an acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylate copolymer, polycarbonate, polyester, methyacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymer, high impact polystyrene, acrytonitrile/acrylate copolynier, polystyrene, styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, methylmethacrylate/styrene copolymer, an aerylonitrile/methyt methacrylate copolymer, impact modified polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride), impact modified poly(vinyl chloride), imidized acrylic polymer, acrylic polymer or impact modified acrylic polymer.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the polymeric matrix is polymethyl methacrylate or copolymers of methyl methacrylate with from 0.1-20 percent alkyl acrylates.

6. The article of claim 1 comprised of,

a) 20 -90% by weight polymer matrix;

b) 0-50 percent by weight modifiers; and

c) 5-60 percent by weight of highly crosslinked spherical beads comprised of 0-35weight percent styrene; 65-99.9 weight percent alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, or a mixture thereot and 0.1-2.5 percent by weight of one or more crossliniking agents, the sum of all weight percentages totaling to 100%.

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

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

9. The article of claim 1 comprising a lighting, sign, point of purchase display, cosmetic display, container, home decoration, office decoration, furniture, shower door, or office door.

10. A resin comprised of a polymeric matrix and from greater than 5 percent to 60 weight percent of polymeric particles wherein said polymeric particles are substantially spherical, highly crosslinked, have a mean particle size of between 35and 70 micrometers and have a particle size distribution between 10-110 micrometers, wherein a 0.125 inch thick sheet extruded from said resin has a Haze number as determined by ASTM D1003 of at least 90% and a minimum surface roughness of 0.5 micrometers to 30 micrometers as measured using ASME methods B461.1, B461.2 and Y14.36, and wherein said polymeric matrix and polymer particles have a mismatch of refractive indices in which the difference in refractive index between the polymeric matrix and polymer particles is greater than 0.015 and less than or equal to 0.025.

11. The resin of claim 10 comprised of,

a)20-90% by weight polymeric matrix;

b)0-50 percent by weight modifiers; and

c)5-60 percent by weight of highly crosslinked spherical beads comprised of 0-35 weight percent styrene; 65-99.9 weight percent alkyl methacrylate, ailcyl acrylate, or a mixture thereon and 0.1-2.5 percent by weight of one or more crosslinking agents, the sum of all weight percentages totaling to 100%.

12. The resin of claim 10 , wherein said polymeric matrix comprises a polymethyl methacrylate or an alkyl methacrylate/alkyl aerylate copotymer.

13. The resin of claim 10 wherein the beads contain a colorant.