Thermoplastic resin composition with improved UV resistance

1. A thermoplastic resin composition comprising:

(a1) at least one styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer component A1,

(a2) at least one acrylonitrile styrene acrylate graft copolymer A2 as impact modifier,

(a3) optionally at least one thermoplastic polymer A3 other than components A1 and A2,

(b) at least one transition metal pigment B,

(c) one hindered amine UV light stabilizer C, and

(d) optionally further polymer additives D, other than components B and C,

wherein the hindered amine UV light stabilizer C is the only UV stabilizing component present in the thermoplastic resin, and

wherein the composition shows a color shift dE of equal to or lower than 3.0 upon UV irradiation according to ISO-4892-2 after 6000 hours.

2. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , comprising 70.0 to 99.4 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of components A1, A2, and optionally A3, and comprising 0.5 to 7.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of component B, and comprising 0.1 to 1.5 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition of component C.

3. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , comprising

(i) of from 89.0 to 99.3 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of A1, A2, and optionally A3,

(ii) of from 0.5 to 7.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of component B,

(iii) of from 0.1 to 1.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of the hindered amine UV light stabilizer C, and

(iv) of from 0.1 to 2.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one further polymer additive D.

4. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer component A1 has an acrylonitrile content of from 5 to 35 wt.-% based on the total weight of the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer component A1.

5. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the impact-modified graft rubber acrylonitrile styrene acrylate A2 comprises:

a graft base A2.1 of from 40 to 90 wt.-% based on the total weight of the impact-modified graft rubber acrylonitrile styrene acrylate A2 comprising:

(i) from 70 to 99.9 wt.-% of n-butyl acrylate based on the total weight of A2.1,

(ii) from 0 to 30 wt.-% of styrene based on the total weight of A2.1, and

(iii) from 0.1 to 5 wt.-% of a crosslinking agent based on the total weight of A2.1; and

a graft A2.2 of from 10 to 60 wt.-% comprising:

(iv) from 65 to 95 wt.-% based on the total weight of A2.2 of styrene, and

(v) from 5 to 35 wt.-% based on the total weight of A2.2 of acrylonitrile.

6. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , comprising from 1 to 70 wt.-% based on the total weight of components A1 and A2 of at least one thermoplastic polymer A3 selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), and mixtures thereof.

7. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the component C is a hindered amine UV light stabilizer according to the following formula (Ia) or formula (Ib):

wherein R1 is H or methyl; each R2 is individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, and ethyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of linear C1- to C18-esters which are connected to formula (Ia) via the oxygen atom of the ester function; and with R4 being selected from the group consisting of C1 to C10 alkylene.

8. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 7 , wherein the component C is selected from the group consisting of a compound according to formula (II) or a compound according to formula (III),

9. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein at least one component D is a metal scavenger.

10. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition shows a color shift dE of equal to or lower than 2.5 upon UV irradiation according to ISO-4892-3 after 6000 hours.

11. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , comprising a plasticizer as component D.

12. The thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 11 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from phthalic acid esters of C10 alcohols, dioctyl phthalate, dibenzyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, N-(n-butyl)benzenesulfonamide, and o- and p-tolylethylsulfonamide.

13. A method for preparing the thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 , comprising the step of mixing A1, A2, B, C, and optionally A3 and D, at temperatures of from 100° C. to 300° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 150 bar, in any order, followed by a kneading or extrusion step.

14. The method for preparing the thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 13 , wherein at least two of components A1, A2, B, C, and optionally A3 and D, are premixed to form a masterbatch.

15. A molded article prepared from the thermoplastic resin composition according to claim 1 .