Non-black EPDM roof membranes with improved weathering

1. A bilaminate roofing membrane comprising:

(i) a first layer including a sulfur-cured EPDM rubber, where the first layer includes silica and a UV light stabilizer dispersed within the EPDM rubber, where the UV light stabilizer is a NOR-HALS compound defined by the formula

wherein R* is C 1 -C 20 alkyl, OH-substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl, optionally C 1 -C 4 alkyl-substituted C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 7 -C 9 phenylalkyl or O- or S-interrupted C 2 -C 20 alkyl;

(ii) a second layer including a sulfur-cured EPDM rubber, where the second layer includes carbon black dispersed within the EPDM rubber, where the second layer is substantially devoid of the NOR-HALS compound; and

(iii) optionally a scrim disposed between said first and second layers.

2. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 1 , where R* is C 1 -C 12 alkyl, benzyl, or C 5 -C 8 cycloalkyl.

3. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 2 , where R* is C 6 -C 10 alkyl or cyclohexyl.

4. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 1 , where said first layer further includes titanium dioxide.

5. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 1 , where said first layer further includes a vulcanizing accelerator or residue thereof.

6. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 5 , where the vulcanizing accelerator is selected from the group consisting of thioureas, thiuram monosulfides and disulfides, benzothiazole sulfonamides, thiazole accelerators, and dithiocarbamates.

7. The bilaminate roofing membrane of claim 4 , where said first layer further includes mica.

8. A roofing membrane comprising at least one non-black layer prepared from a vulcanizable composition of matter including:

an EPDM rubber;

a non-black filler including silica;

a UV light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of NOR-HALS of the formula

wherein R* is C 1 -C 20 alkyl, OH-substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl, optionally C 1 -C 4 alkyl-substituted C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 7 -C 9 phenylalkyl or O- or S-interrupted C 2 -C 20 alkyl;

wherein the vulcanizable composition of matter contains from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. % of the UV light stabilizer; and

a cure package.

9. The roofing membrane of claim 8 , where the membrane includes first and second layers laminated to each other, optionally with a scrim disposed there between, where the first layer is the at least one non-black layer and the second layer is a black layer.

10. The roofing membrane of claim 9 , where the black layer is prepared from a vulcanizable composition including EPDM rubber, carbon black, and a cure package.

11. The roofing membrane of claim 10 , where the vulcanizable composition used to prepare the black layer is substantially devoid of NOR-HALS.

12. The roofing membrane of claim 8 , where the vulcanizable composition further includes a vulcanization accelerator selected from the group consisting of thioureas, thiuram monosulfides and disulfides, benzothiazole sulfonamides, thiazole accelerators, and dithiocarbamates.

13. The roofing membrane of claim 12 , where the EPDM rubber forms a rubber component, and where the rubber component consists essentially of the EPDM rubber.

14. The roofing membrane of claim 1 , wherein the roofing membrane provides increased weathering resistance as tested according to the Xenon Arc test of ASTM D4637.

15. A method for the production of a roofing membrane, the method comprising:

(i) mixing an EPDM rubber, silica, a curative, and a UV stabilizer selected from the group consisting of NOR-HALS of the formula

wherein R* is C 1 -C 20 alkyl, OH-substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl, optionally C 1 -C 4 alkyl-substituted C 5 -C 12 cycloalkyl, C 7 -C 9 phenylalkyl or O- or S-interrupted C 2 -C 20 alkyl, wherein the vulcanizable composition contains from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. % of the UV light stabilizer;

(ii) calendering the vulcanizable composition into one or more layers to form a sheet; and

(iii) curing the sheet such that the EPDM rubber has improved resistance to UV light as compared to an EPDM membrane made comparably, but without the same UV stabilizer.

16. The method of claim 15 , where the curative is sulfur, and where the vulcanizable composition further includes a vulcanization accelerator.

17. The method of claim 16 , where the vulcanization accelerator is selected from the group consisting of thioureas, thiuram monosulfides and disulfides, benzothiazole sulfonamides, thiazole accelerators, and dithiocarbamates.