abstract |
A process for making a multilayered formable plastic composite laminate and a process for its manufacture which includes preparing an acrylic composition which includes the reaction product of a mixture of predominantly an acrylic monomer and a substantially lesser amount of a polymer thereof, at least one free radical reaction initiating reaction catalyst, and optionally, a chain length regulating agent or a cross-linking agent; deaerating the acrylic composition; casting the deaerated acrylic composition upon a sheet or laminate of a thermoplastic material; and curing the cast acrylic composition in several successive stages so as to substantially polymerize the acrylic monomer and to permit penetration of the acrylic composition preferably to a depth of between about 0.001-0.1 inch into thermoplastic material to form a laminate having a uniform and gradual acrylic/thermoplastic interphase, rather than a sharp separation between the layers thereof, so as to prevent delamination during further processing operations. These laminates are then thermoformed into various shaped articles. |