Reinforced structural siding panel with improved thermal and mechanical properties
An advanced siding panel that combines a traditional siding appearance with improved insulation, structural integrity, and improved thermal characteristics.
1. A siding assembly comprising a siding profile and a reinforcing insulation;
(a) the profile comprising:
(i) a top edge comprising a nailing flange and a bottom edge,
(ii) an exterior face and a reverse face, and
(iii) a right and a left installation locus;
(b) the reinforcing insulation member at least partially covering a reverse face of the profile, fitting the profile, and providing a substantially planar installation surface,
wherein the profile comprises a composite comprising a continuous thermoplastic polymer phase and a glass fiber phase dispersed in the polymer, the composite comprising:
(i) the continuous polymer phase comprising a thermoplastic polymer; and
(ii) about 1 to 60 wt. % of glass fiber, the fiber having a length greater than about 5 microns, a diameter greater than about 3 microns and an aspect ratio greater than about 3, the fiber having about 0.1 to 5 wt. % of an exterior coating comprising an interfacial modifier, the wt. % based on the discontinuous phase; and wherein the assembly has an impact (ASTM D4226) of at least 4 Joules, an R (insulation) value of at least 2 (ASTM C1363), a heat deflection temperature of at least 60° C. (ASTM D648), and a coefficient of thermal expansion (COTE) of less than 20×10 −6 in·in −1 ° F. (ASTM 696).
2. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl chloride.
3. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the interfacial modifier is an organometallic compound.
4. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly has an R (insulation) value of at least 4 (ASTM C1363) an impact (ASTM A3746) of at least 30 Joules, composite has a heat deflection temperature of at least 60° C. (ASTM D648), and a COTE less than 10×10 −6 in·in −1 ·° F. (ASTM 696).
5. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a wood grained appearance.
6. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the fiber has about 0.1 to 3 wt.-% of an interfacial modifier.
7. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the interfacial modifier comprises a titanate compound.
8. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a continuous layer having a thickness of about 100 to 1500 Å.
9. The siding assembly of claim 1 wherein the interfacial modifier is free of any reactive coupling agent.