COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TEXTURED ACRYLIC SURFACE

1 . A composition for making a cast, thermoformable sheet or slab, comprising: a syrup comprising:

a. about 30-40% SSI—Acrylic pre-polymerized syrup at 20% solids;

b. about 30-40% MMA—methyl methacrylate;

c. about 2-3% BA—Butyl acrylate;

d. about 1-15% acrylic chips; and

e. about 1-15% rigid particles with a mean diameter of about 0.5-2000 μm.

2 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the rigid particles comprise a polymeric or inorganic material.

3 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the rigid particles comprise poly allyl diglycol carbonate.

4 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the syrup comprises:

a. about 38% SSI—Acrylic pre-polymerized syrup at 20% solids;

b. about 38% MMA—methyl methacrylate;

c. about 3% BA—Butyl acrylate;

d. about 14% acrylic chips; and

e. about 7% rigid particles with a mean diameter of about 0.5-2000 μm.

5 . The composition of claim 1 wherein the syrup further comprises one or more of an anti-flocculating agent; a pigment; a chain transfer agent; a release agent; a crosslinking agent and an initiator.

6 . The composition of claim 4 wherein the syrup further comprises one or more of an anti-flocculating agent; a pigment; a chain transfer agent; a release agent; a crosslinking agent and an initiator.

7 . A composition for making a cast, thermoformable sheet or slab, comprising:

a syrup, comprising:

a. about 37.7% SSI—Acrylic pre-polymerized syrup at 20% solids;

b. about 37.7% MMA—methyl methacrylate;

c. about 2.7% BA—Butyl acrylate;

d. about 0.3% of an anti flocculating agent;

e. about 0.1% of a chain transfer agent;

f. about 0.01% of a release agent;

g. about 0.2% of a crosslinking agent;

h. about 0.1-0.3% of one or more initiators;

i. about 14% acrylic chips; and

j. about 7% rigid particles with a mean diameter of about 0.5-2000 μm.

8 . The composition of claim 7 wherein the rigid particles comprise poly allyl diglycol carbonate.

9 . A method for producing a thermoformed article having a textured surface comprising:

a. mixing a syrup comprising: about 30-40% SSI—Acrylic pre-polymerized syrup at 20% solids, about 30-40% MMA—methyl methacrylate, about 2-3% BA—Butyl acrylate, about 1-15% acrylic chips; and about 1-15% rigid particles with a mean diameter of about 0.5-2000 μm;

b. swelling the acrylic chips;

c. degassing the syrup;

d. heating the syrup;

e. casting the syrup into a sheet; and

f. thermoforming the cast sheet against a mold.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the syrup is cast against a polished surface to produce a sheet having a gloss finish.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the sheet having a gloss finish is thermoformed against the mold to produce the article.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the article has one or more textured surfaces and one or more glossy surfaces.

13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the rigid particles comprise poly allyl diglycol carbonate.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the rigid particles comprise poly allyl diglycol carbonate and about 7% of the syrup.

15 . The method of claim 9 wherein the syrup comprises:

a. about 37.7% SSI—Acrylic pre-polymerized syrup at 20% solids;

b. about 37.7% MMA—methyl methacrylate;

c. about 2.7% BA—Butyl acrylate;

d. about 0.3% of an anti flocculating agent;

e. about 0.1% of a chain transfer agent;

f. about 0.01% of a release agent;

g. about 0.2% of a crosslinking agent;

h. about 0.1-0.3% of one or more initiators;

i. about 14% acrylic chips; and

j. about 7% poly allyl diglycol carbonate particles with a mean diameter of about 0.5-2000 μm.