Materials maker Teknor Apex Co. has added acrylic-based compounds for highly weatherable, dark-color outer layers in PVC exteriors to its product mix.
The capstocks will be sold under the Weatherguard brand name. They're aimed at window and door profiles and similar uses, officials with Teknor in Pawtucket, R.I., said in a recent news release.
The materials offer accelerated weathering performance, as well as high resistance to "water whitening," a weathering defect caused by high humidity and rapid temperature changes that's most notable in dark colors, officials said.
The capstock compounds "make for a unique set of properties for applications where high aesthetics are required," John Macaluso, vinyl building and construction industry manager, said.
The new compounds exhibit similar or improved impact resistance in comparison with acrylics commonly used in capstock applications today, he added. Teknor also can modify its base technology to meet specific gloss targets.
The firm also can customize processing properties, making it unnecessary for building product manufacturers to retool. Macaluso said that's particularly valuable in complex profiles such as window and door profiles.
Teknor makes compounds based on flexible and rigid PVC, thermoplastic elastomers and nylons and also makes color concentrates, specialty chemicals and garden hoses. The firm operates 13 plants worldwide in the U.S., Belgium, Germany, China and Singapore and has annual sales of more than $1 billion.