Plastic roof tiles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a shaped plastic roof tile preferably one shaped like a slate tile. The tile is constructed of the combination of a thermoplastic, preferably one or more polyolefin polymers, and a chlorine containing polymer in an amount to provide a final chlorine content to the tile of between 1% and 65% by weight. The polyolefin polymer is preferably a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene derived from recycled material. The chlorine containing polymer is one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyvinylidene dichloride (PVDC), chlorinated polyolefin, acrylate modified PVC, neoprene rubber, copolymers of vinyl chloride with ethylene, propylene, vinyl acetate, vinyl dichloride, and butadiene, copolymers of vinylidene chloride with butyl acrylate and nitrile, and polymer blends of PVC with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA), nitrile rubber, and polyvinyl acetate (EVA). Preferably, the chlorine containing polymer is recycled neoprene rubber.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A shaped plastic roof tile, the tile being formed of a combination of a thermoplastic and a chlorine containing polymer in an amount to provide a final chlorine content to the tile of between 1% and 65% by weight.  
     
     
         2 . A roof tile according to    claim 1    wherein the thermoplastic is one or more polyolefin polymers.  
     
     
         3 . A roof tile according to    claim 1    wherein the polyolefin polymer is a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene derived from recycled material.  
     
     
         4 . A roof tile according to    claim 2    wherein the chlorine containing polymer is one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyvinylidene dichloride (PVDC), chlorinated polyolefin, acrylate modified PVC, neoprene rubber, copolymers of vinyl chloride with ethylene, propylene, vinyl acetate, vinyl dichloride, and butadiene, copolymers of vinylidene chloride with butyl acrylate and nitrile, and polymer blends of PVC with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA), nitrile rubber, and polyvinyl acetate (EVA).  
     
     
         5 . A roof tile according to    claim 3    wherein the chlorine containing polymer is PVC or recycled neoprene rubber or comboinations of PVC and neoprene rubber.  
     
     
         6 . A roof tile according to    claim 1    wherein the polyolefin polymer is present in an amount of from 50 to 95 percent by weight and the chlorine containing polymer is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 percent by weight.  
     
     
         7 . A roof tile according to    claim 5    wherein the polyolefin polymer is present in an amount of from 60 to 75 percent by weight and the chlorine containing polymer is present in an amount of 25 to 40 percent by weight.  
     
     
         8 . A roof tile according to    claim 6    wherein the polyolefin polymer is present in an amount of 65 to 70 percent by weight and the chlorine containing polymer in an amount of 30 to 35 percent by weight.  
     
     
         9 . A roof tile according to    claim 7    wherein the polyolefin polymer is a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         10 . A roof tile according to    claim 8    wherein the polyolefin polymer comprises from 5 to 75 percent by weight polyethylene and 25 to 95 percent by weight polypropylene.  
     
     
         11 . A roof tile according to    claim 8    wherein the polyolefin polymer comprises from 20 to 50 percent by weight polyethylene and 50 to 80 percent by weight polypropylene.  
     
     
         12 . A roof tile according to    claim 11    wherein the polypropylene is a rubber modified polypropylene.