Composition for use in components requiring a surface appearance of cast iron

摘要

A non-porous component is disclosed having a surface pattern resembling cast iron and formed from a composition comprising rubber crumb and a thermoplastic polymer; wherein the rubber crumb is dispersed in a hard matrix of the polymer, particles of the rubber crumb being disposed at and protruding from the surface of the polymer matrix to provide a surface resembling cast iron. The component may be a component for a guttering or a drainage system for a building. There is also disclosed a method of preparing a composition comprising a surface having an appearance resembling cast iron, the method comprising combining rubber crumb and a thermoplastic polymer to form a hard matrix of polymer having dispersed therein particles of rubber crumb; wherein particles of rubber crumb are disposed at and extend from the surface of the polymer matrix to provide the surface with the appearance resembling cast iron. In preferred embodiments the thermoplastic is polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride. Pigments such as carbon black or titanium dioxide may be added.