The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a (meth)acrylic polymer. The invention further relates to a process for the production of such polymer composition. The invention also relates to articles comprising such polymer composition.

Polymer compositions comprising (meth)acrylic polymers are well-known for their advantageous properties. These advantageous properties include optical properties such as transparency, weathering resistance, hardness, colourability and the ability to be processed into suitable shapes. Polymer composition comprising (meth)acrylic polymers may be thermoplastic, allowing to be moulded into the desired shapes by melt processing, such as via melt extrusion and injection moulding. This allows for a large variety of shapes to be obtained having uniform dimensions and properties.

Due to these favourable properties, (meth)acrylic polymers find extensive usage in for example exterior applications for electronic displays, automotive exterior applications such as lighting components and window applications, as well as in architectural and constructional applications.

A particular property that is applicable in such exterior applications is the scratch resistance. The appearance of scratches not only reduces the durability of products, but also their aesthetics. For that reason, a certain scratch resistance is required.

A further property that is applicable in certain applications is heat resistance. In order to withstand the conditions to which such applications are exposed during their lifetime whilst still maintaining the desired combination of properties, a certain heat resistance is required.

In particular, there is a need for polymer compositions that provide for a good balance of both heat resistance and scratch resistance, preferably whilst still providing the advantageous properties such as transparency, processability, colourability, weathering resistance and hardness.

Various attempts have been presented trying to achieve such balance of properties. For example in US8076435, a copolymer is produced using methyl methacrylate and tricyclodecanyl hydroxymethacrylate. A disadvantage hereof is that a dedicated polymerisation needs to be performed using such specific formulation of monomer and comonomer. This is undesirable from amongst others the viewpoint of process efficiency in polymerisation.

Thus, there remains a need for a polymer composition of having a desired high heat resistance and good scratch resistance, whilst preferably maintaining good optical properties such as transparency and good surface properties.

This has now been achieved according to the present invention by a polymer composition comprising

(a) 60.0-80.0 wt% of a (meth)acrylic polymer; and

(b) 20.0-40.0 wt% of a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride with regard to the total weight of (a) and (b), the total of (a) and (b) being 100 wt%;

wherein the polymer composition is prepared by melt mixing of a mixture comprising (a) and (b) in a melt extruder, wherein the melt extruder comprises:

(i) an inlet for feeding the mixture;

(ii) a barrel comprising one or more extruder screw(s) each comprising a tip;

(iii) one or more opening(s) for removing the obtained polymer composition from the extruder; and

(iv) a volume of space in the area between the tip(s) of the extruder screw(s) and the opening(s) for removing the obtained polymer composition

wherein during the melt mixing the temperature of the polymer composition in the volume of space (iv) is≥ 235°C and < 255°C.

Alternatively, such polymer composition may comprise 60.0-75.0 wt% of a (meth)acrylic polymer, or 65.0-75.0 wt%, with regard to the total weight of the polymer composition. The polymer composition may alternatively comprise 25.0-40.0 wt% of a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride, or 25.0-35.0 wt%, with regard to the total weight of the polymer composition.

Such polymer composition has a desirable scratch resistance and a desirable heat resistance.

It is preferred that the polymer composition comprises (a) 65.0-75.0 wt% of a (meth)acrylic polymer; and

(b) 25.0-35.0 wt% of a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride with regard to the total weight of (a) and (b).

A suitable indicator for the scratch resistance may for example be the residual scratch depth as determined in accordance with ASTM D7187-10. Suitable indicators for the heat resistance in the context of the present invention may for example be the heat deflection temperature, also referred to as HDT, as determined in accordance with ISO 75-2 (2013), method B, where a higher HDT may be an indicator for a higher heat resistance; the glass transition temperature, also referred to as T _g , as determined in accordance with ISO 1 1357-2 (2013), where a higher T _g may be an indicator for a higher heat resistance; and/or the Vicat B softening temperature was determined in accordance with ISO 306 (2013), where a higher Vicat B may be an indicator for a higher heat resistance.

Suitable melt extruders for preparation of the polymer compositions are well known. It is preferred that the melt extruder comprises at least two extruder screws wherein the extruder screws are co-rotating or counter-rotating, and wherein the melt extruder is designed such to ensure the feed mixture to be transported from the feed inlet to the opening for removing the obtained polymer composition and to ensure the feed mixture to be subjected to sufficient heat to result in the polymer composition in the volume of space (iv) to have a temperature of≥ 235°C and < 255°C. It is preferred that the melt extruder comprises two extruder screws wherein the extruder screws are co-rotating. Heat may be supplied to the feed mixture in the melt extruder by in the form of shear induced by rotation of the extruder screws and/or by supply of external heat such as via a heating jacket positioned around the barrel of the melt extruder.

Preferably, the temperature of the polymer composition during the melt mixing in the volume of space (iv) is≥ 235°C and < 250°C.

Preferably, the temperature of the polymer composition during the melt mixing in the volume of space (iv) is≥ 235°C and < 245°C.

Preferably, the temperature of the polymer composition during the melt mixing in the volume of space (iv) is≥ 240°C and < 250°C.

A polymer composition according to the present invention may for example by prepared via a process comprising the following steps in this order: • continuously feeding the mixture comprising (a) and (b) and optionally further ingredients to the inlet (i) of a melt extruder;

• subjecting the mixture to rotation of the screws such as to result in the transportation of the mixture towards the opening(s) (iii);

· continuously removing the obtained polymer composition from the opening(s)

(iii); and

• cooling the obtained polymer composition to obtain a solid composition.

In addition to inlet (i), the melt extruder may optionally have further inlet(s) for feeding the mixture of ingredients to the melt extruder. The obtained polymer composition may be removed from the extruder from the opening(s)

(iii), wherein the opening(s) may be present in the form of circular openings or holes. The obtained polymer composition may leave the melt extruder in the form of strands, wherein the polymer composition upon leaving the extruder is in molten state. The molten strands leaving the extruder may be subjected to cooling to a temperature below the melting point of the polymer composition. For example, the molten strands may be cooled to below 100°C. this cooling may be achieved by subjecting the molten strands to water having a temperature of for example < 50°C.

It is preferred that the process for preparation of the polymer composition according to the invention is a continuous process.

The (meth)acrylic polymer (a) preferably is a polymer comprising ≥ 95.0 % by weight of polymer units according to formula I , with regard to the total weight of the (meth)acylic polymer:

formula I in which:

R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon moiety comprising 1 -4 carbon atoms; R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety comprising 1 -4 carbon atoms;

R3 is a hydrocarbon moiety comprising 1 -4 carbon atoms; For example, R1 may be hydrogen or -CH3. For example, R1 may be -CH3. For example,

R2 may be -CH3. For example, R1 may be -CH3 and R2 may be -CH3.

The (meth)acrylic polymer (a) may for example be a polymer prepared using≥ 95.0 % by weight, more preferably≥ 98.0 % or≥ 99.0 % by weight, with regards to the total weight of the monomers used, of one or more monomers selected from methyl acrylate, methyl-2-methyl acrylate, methyl-2-ethyl acrylate, methyl-2-propyl-acrylate, methyl-2-butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl-2-methyl acrylate, ethyl-2-ethyl acrylate, ethyl-2-propyl acrylate, ethyl-2-butyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, propyl-2-methyl acrylate, propyl-2-ethyl acrylate, propyl-2-propyl acrylate, propyl-2-butyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl-2-methyl acrylate, butyl-2-ethyl acrylate, butyl-2-propyl acrylate, butyl-2-butyl acrylate, t-butyl-2-methyl acrylate, isobutyl-2-methyl acrylate, isopropyl-2-methyl acrylate, or combinations thereof. More preferably, the (meth)acrylic polymer (a) is a polymer prepared using≥ 95.0 % by weight, more preferably≥ 98.0 % or≥ 99.0 % by weight, with regards to the total weight of the monomers used of one or more monomers selected from methyl acrylate, methyl-2-methyl acrylate, butyl-2-methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the (meth)acrylic polymer (a) is selected from polymethylmethacrylate

(PMMA), polybutylmethacrylate (PBMA), poly(methylmethacrylate-ethylacrylate (PMMA-co-EA), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polybenzyl methacrylate, poly(n-butyl acrylate), poly(t-butyl acrylate), poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), poly(1 ,3-dimethylbutyl methacrylate), poly(3,3-dimethylbutyl methacrylate), poly(diphenylethyl methacrylate), poly(diphenylmethyl methacrylate),

poly(dodecyl methacrylate), poly(2-ethylbutyl methacrylate), polyethyl methacrylate,

poly(trimethylpropyl methacrylate), poly(n-propylmethacrylate), polyphenyl methacrylate, poly(1 - phenylethyl methacrylate), polyoctyl methacrylate, polyneopentyl methacrylate, poly(1 - methylpentyl methacrylate), polymethylbutyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate,

polyisopropyl methacrylate, polyisopentyl methacrylate, or combinations thereof. More preferably, the (meth)acrylic polymer (a) is selected from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polybutylmethacrylate (PBMA), poly(methylmethacrylate-ethylacrylate (PMMA-co-EA), or polyethyl acrylate (PEA). It is preferred that the (meth)acrylic polymer (a) is

polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The PMMA may for example have a melt mass flow rate as determined in accordance with ISO 1 133-1 (201 1 ), at 230°C using a load of 3.80 kg, of≥ 0.1 and < 20.0 g/10 min, alternatively≥ 0.5 and < 10.0 g/10 min, alternatively≥ 1.0 and < 5.0 g/10 min. The use of such PMMA in the preparation of a polymer composition according to the invention may for example result in a polymer composition having such flow properties allowing for the production of transparent articles of the polymer composition via injection moulding.

The copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride may also be referred to as a SMA copolymer (styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer). The SMA copolymer may for example comprise≥ 10 wt% and < 50 wt% of polymer units derived from maleic anhydride, with regard to the total weight of the copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride, alternatively≥ 15 wt% and < 40 wt%, alternatively≥ 20 wt% and < 35 wt%, alternatively≥ 20 wt% and < 30 wt%.

The SMA copolymer may for example have an intrinsic viscosity, also referred to as IV, of ≥ 0.20 and < 1.00 dl/g, alternatively≥ 0.30 and < 0.75 dl/g, alternatively≥ 0.40 and < 0.60 dl/g, as determined in accordance with ISO 1628-1 :2009.

The SMA copolymer may for example have a Vicat softening temperature of≥ 100°C, alternatively≥ 120°C, alternatively≥ 140°C, such as≥ 140°C and < 180°C, as determined in accordance with ISO 306 (2013), method B120. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer composition according to the invention comprises a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride comprising≥ 20 wt% and < 35 wt% of polymer units derived from maleic anhydride, with regard to the total weight of the copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride, and wherein the (meth)acrylic polymer (a) is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

The polymer composition may optionally comprise further ingredients such as

antioxidants. These antioxidants may for example be phenolic antioxidants and/or phosphite antioxidants. A stabiliser composition comprising one or more phenolic antioxidant(s) and one or more phosphite antioxidant(s) may for example be used. Phenolic antioxidants may for example be selected from monophenolic antioxidants, i.e. antioxidants containing one phenolic group per molecule, bisphenolic antioxidants i.e. antioxidants containing two phenolic groups per molecule, and polyphenolic antioxidants, i.e. antioxidants containing more than two phenolic groups per molecule, including 1 ,1 ,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butyl phenyl) butane, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 1 ,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6- tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene, 1 ,3,5-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4- hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate, and 1 ,3,5-tris(4-t-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurat e. Preferably, the phenolic antioxidant is pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4- hydroxyphenyl)propionate.

Phosphite antioxidants may for example be selected from trisnonylphenyl phosphite, trilauryl phosphite, tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite, triisodecyl phosphite, diisodecyl phenyl phosphite, diphenyl isodecyl phosphite, and triphenyl phosphite. Preferably, the phosphite antioxidant is tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite.

Preferably, the stabiliser that is introduced to the melt extruder comprises pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate.

The polymer composition may for example comprise≥ 0.10 and < 1.00 wt% of antioxidant, with regard to the total weight of the polymer composition, preferably≥ 0.20 and < 0.50 wt%.

The polymer composition may optionally comprise further ingredients such as heat stabilisers. The heat stabilisers may for example be a nitrogen-containing compounds. Such nitrogen-containing heat stabilisers may for example be one or more selected from the list consisting of aminotriazine compounds, allantoin, hydrazides, polyamids, melamines, and/or mixtures thereof.

The nitrogen-containing compound can be a low molecular weight compound or a high molecular weight compound. Examples of low molecular weight nitrogen-containing

compounds can include an aliphatic amine (e.g., monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and tris- (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), an aromatic amine (e.g., an aromatic secondary or tertiary amine such as o-toluidine, p-toluidine, p-phenylenediamine, o-aminobenzoic acid, p- aminobenzoic acid, ethyl o-aminobenzoate, or ethyl p-aminobenzoate), an imide compound (e.g., phthalimide, trimellitimide, and pyromellitimide), a triazole compound (e.g., benzotriazole), a tetrazole compound (e.g., an amine salt of 5,5'-bitetrazole, or a metal salt thereof), an amide compound (e.g., a polycarboxylic acid amide such as malonamide or isophthaldiamide, and p- aminobenzamide), hydrazine or a derivative thereof (e.g., an aliphatic carboxylic acid hydrazide such as hydrazine, hydrazone, a carboxylic acid hydrazide (stearic hydrazide, 12-hydroxystearic hydrazide, adipic dihydrazide, sebacic dihydrazide, or dodecane diacid dihydrazide; and an aromatic carboxylic acid hydrazide such as benzoic hydrazide, naphthoic hydrazide, isophthalic dihydrazide, terephthalic dihydrazide, naphthalenedicarboxylic dihydrazide, or

benzenetricarboxylic trihydrazide)), a polyaminotriazine (e.g., guanamine or a derivative thereof, such as guanamine, acetoguanamine, benzoguanamine, succinoguanamine, adipoguanamine, 1 ,3,6-tris(3,5-diamino-2,4,6-triazinyl)hexane, phthaloguanamine or CTU-guanamine, melamine or a derivative thereof (e.g., melamine, and a condensate of melamine, such as melam, melem or melon)), a salt of a polyaminotriazine compound containing melamine and a melamine derivative with an organic acid, a salt of a polyaminotriazine compound containing melamine and a melamine derivative with an inorganic acid, uracil or a derivative thereof (e.g., uracil, and uridine), cytosine or a derivative thereof (e.g., cytosine, and cytidine), guanidine or a derivative thereof (e.g., a non-cyclic guanidine such as guanidine or cyanoguanidine; and a cyclic guanidine such as creatinine), and urea or a derivative thereof.

The polymer composition may for example comprise≥ 0.10 and < 1.00 wt% of heat stabilisers, with regard to the total weight of the polymer composition, preferably≥ 0.20 and < 0.50 wt%.

In a certain preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising:

(a) 60.0-80.0 wt% of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA); and

(b) 20.0-40.0 wt% of a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride

comprising≥ 10 wt% and < 50 wt% of polymer units derived from maleic anhydride;

with regard to the total weight of (a) and (b), the total of (a) and (b) being 100 wt%;

wherein the polymer composition is prepared by melt mixing of a mixture comprising (a) and (b) in a melt extruder, wherein the melt extruder comprises:

(i) an inlet for feeding the mixture;

(ii) a barrel comprising one or more extruder screw(s) each comprising a tip;

(iii) one or more opening(s) for removing the obtained polymer composition from the extruder; and

(iv) a volume of space in the area between the tip(s) of the extruder screw(s) and the opening(s) for removing the obtained polymer composition wherein during the melt mixing the temperature of the polymer composition in the volume of space (iv) is≥ 235°C and < 255°C; and

wherein an article produced using the polymer composition has:

• a luminous transmittance as determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000) of≥ 90.0 %;

• a haze as determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000) of < 2.3 %;

• a glass transition temperature as determined in accordance with ISO 1 1357-2 (2013) of≥ 125°C;

• a temperature of deflection under load as determined in accordance with ISO 75- 2 (2013), method B of≥ 105°C; and/or

• a Vicat B softening temperature as determined in accordance with ISO 306

(2013), using a force of 50 N and a heating rate of 120 K/h, of≥ 1 10°C.

Such polymer composition has a desirable balance of high heat resistance, good scratch resistance and good optical properties.

The invention also relates in an embodiment to an article produced using the polymer composition according to the invention, wherein the article has:

• a luminous transmittance as determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000) of≥ 90.0 %, preferably≥ 91 .0 %;

• a haze as determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000) of < 2.3 %,

preferably < 2.0 %;

• a glass transition temperature as determined in accordance with ISO 1 1357-2 (2013) of≥ 125°C, preferably≥ 130°C;

• a temperature of deflection under load as determined in accordance with ISO 75- 2 (2013), method B of≥ 105°C, preferably≥ 1 10°C; and/or

• a Vicat B softening temperature as determined in accordance with ISO 306

(2013), using a force of 50 N and a heating rate of 120 K/h, of≥ 1 10°C, preferably≥1 15°C.

It is preferred that such article has a residual scratch depth as determined in accordance with ASTM 7187-10 of < 1500 nm, preferably < 1050 nm, more preferably < 1000 nm. The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Table I - Materials used

Polymer compositions were prepared using a Coperion ZSK25 co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw melt extruder using for each of the examples the composition of ingredients as presented in table II. The extruder was operated at a speed of 300 rpm. The material feed rate was 8 kg/h.

For examples 1-8, the extruder settings were such that the temperature of the polymer composition in the volume of space in the area between the tips of the extruder screws and the openings for removing the obtained polymer composition was 235°C.

For example 9, the extruder settings were such that the temperature of the polymer composition in the volume of space in the area between the tips of the extruder screws and the openings for removing the obtained polymer composition was 230°C. For example 10, the extruder settings were such that the temperature of the polymer composition in the volume of space in the area between the tips of the extruder screws and the openings for removing the obtained polymer composition was 260°C.

The material leaving the extruder in molten circular strands having a diameter of ca. 4 mm was cooled to solidification by conducting the strands via a water bath in which the water in maintained at a temperature of 20-40°C, upon which the solidified strands were cut into pellets having a length of ca. 4 mm.

Table II - compositions for extrusion

Example PMMA SMA 1 (I) 80.0 20.0

2 (I) 70.0 30.0

3 (I) 60.0 40.0

4 (C) 50.0 50.0

5 (C) 40.0 60.0

6 (C) 20.0 80.0

7 (C) 100.0 0.0

8 (C) 0.0 100.0

9 (C) 70.0 30.0

10 (C) 70.0 30.0

The values in table II are in parts by weight. Examples 1 -3 relate to the present invention. Examples 4-10 are included for comparative purposes.

Wherein:

T _g is the glass transition temperature as determined in accordance with ISO 1 1357-2 (2013).

HDT is the heat deflection temperature as determined as the temperature of deflection under load, in accordance with ISO 75-2 (2013), method B. Vicat B softening temperature was determined in accordance with ISO 306 (2013), using a force of 50 N and a heating rate of 120 K/h.

Transmission is the luminous transmittance as determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000). Haze was determined in accordance with ASTM D1003 (2000).

Impact strength is the Izod impact strength as determined in accordance with ISO 180 (2000), notch type A, at 23°C.

Tensile strength was determined in accordance with ISO 527-1 (2012).

Residual depth is the depth of scratches induced by the nano-scratching method as determined in accordance with ASTM 7187-10.

Hardness is determined in as the indentation hardness in accordance with ISO 14577-1 (2015). Hardness was determined using a Berkovich indenter with a tip diameter of 20 nm. Indentations were made with a constant strain rate of 0.05 s ^"1 and indentation depth of 2μη"ΐ.

Strand stability is an indicator for the possibility to guide strands of the molten material, the strands typically being circular and having a diameter of 3-5 mm, via a water bad where solidification takes place over one or more guiding rolls into a rotary cutter where the solid strands are cut into pellets. Where such guidance does not result in periodic breaking of strands, the strand stability is indicated to be good. Where breaking of strands occurs, the strand stability is indicated as poor. During the experiment of example 10, it was not possible to process the molten material leaving the melt extruder in strands and cooling the strands in the water bath. Breaking of stands occurred. This may be attributable to degradation of the polymer due to the high temperature conditions used in example 10.

The presented examples indicate that a polymer composition according to the present invention, comprising 60.0-80.0 wt% of a (meth)acrylic polymer; and 20.0-40.0 wt% of a copolymer prepared using styrene and maleic anhydride, which is prepared by melt mixing in a melt extruder at a temperature of≥ 235°C and < 255°C, has a desirably good combination of heat resistance and scratch resistance, combined with amongst other good optical properties and impact strength.