Multilayer article with variegated appearance

Abstract

A variegated capstock for covering a substrate for a building product has polymeric streaks in a non-clear, non-opaque matrix. Rapid cooling of the matrix minimizes formation of crystallites, such that the polymeric streaks become visible through a surface of the non-opaque matrix. The streaks are visible by having a color or an index of refraction different from that of the matrix. The matrix is in one or more layers, and the polymeric streaks are in the layers. The substrate is visible through the non-clear, non-opaque matrix and can appear partially obscured by the non-clear, non-opaque matrix.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A synthetic building material comprising:
 a polymer matrix;   a major surface having a tactile texture;   a side surface; and   a first streak visible from the major surface or the side surface.   
     
     
         13 . The building material of  claim 12 , wherein the first streak affects the tactile texture of the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The building material of  claim 12 , wherein the side surface has a tactile texture. 
     
     
         15 . The building material of  claim 12 , wherein the first streak is visible in three dimensions. 
     
     
         16 . The building material of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first streak is disposed on or in the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         17 . The building material of  claim 12 , wherein the first streak has a contrasting color compared to a color of the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The building material of  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of a first type of streaks, the plurality of the first type of streaks including the first streak, wherein each streak of the plurality of the first type of streaks have a common property. 
     
     
         19 . The building material of  claim 18 , wherein the common property comprises a color, a size, a shape, a width, a diameter, a length, a diffusive boundary definition, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The building material of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of a second type of streaks having a common property different than the common property of the plurality of the first type of streaks. 
     
     
         21 . The building material of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the second type of streaks is disposed on or in the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         22 . The building material of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the second type of streaks is visible from the major surface or the side surface. 
     
     
         23 . The building material of  claim 23 , wherein the major surface simulates wood grain. 
     
     
         24 . The building material of  claim 23 , wherein the first streak comprises a multiphase polymer having at least two vicat softening point temperatures. 
     
     
         25 . The building material of  claim 24 , wherein the at least two vicat softening temperatures are higher than a vicat softening temperature of the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         26 . The building material of  claim 23 , wherein the polymer matrix includes at least two miscible thermoplastic polymers. 
     
     
         27 . The building material of  claim 26 , wherein the at least two miscible thermoplastic polymers are present in separate and distinct polymeric regions in the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         28 . The building material of  claim 23 , wherein the building material is a siding material, a roofing material, a shingle material, a slate material, a shake material, a panel material, a decking material, a floor covering material, a tile material, a fence material, or a window frame material. 
     
     
         29 . The building material of  claim 28 , wherein the building material is a shingle material. 
     
     
         30 . A method of making a building material, comprising:
 providing a mixture of polymer matrix particles and streaker pellet particles;   heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to melt the polymer matrix particles and the streaker pellet particles; and   molding the melted mixture to form the building material comprising:
 a polymer matrix; 
 a major surface having a tactile texture; 
 a side surface; and 
 a first streak visible from the major surface or the side surface. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the molding includes compression molding, casting, or in situ molding.