Patent ID: 7732521

Claim:
A process for making a shaped article, comprising the steps of: a) providing as separate materials a first material that includes a first polyolefin, and a second material including an admixture of: (i) from about 45 to 85 wt. % of the total admixture of at least one particulated mineral filler; and (ii) from about 15 to 55 wt. % of the total admixture of at least a second polyolefin wherein the second polyolefin comprises a polyolefin plastomer that includes a thermoplastic having a primary monomer of ethylene, a comonomer selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene, and is characterized by a melt index greater than 150 g/10 min at 190° C./2.16 kg, as measured per ISO 1133 (condition D); b) applying a shear force to the first and second materials, while the materials are at an elevated temperature for blending the materials to form a molten blend; c) shaping the molten blend; and d) solidifying the molten blend; wherein the step of applying a shear force occurs while the first and second materials advance along a screw within a screw and barrel assembly, and the process is substantially free of a step of compounding together the first and second materials prior to introducing the first and second materials to the screw and barrel assembly.