Rohm unveils new capstock technology for demanding outdoor applications

Acrylite SunResist is also the first product of its kind under the company's acrylite brand for PMMA materials in the Americas

Röhm, one of the world’s leading manufacturers in methacrylate chemistry, has launched what it claims is a breakthrough in capstock technology for demanding outdoor applications.

Acrylite SunResist is also the first product of its kind under the company's acrylite brand for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) materials in the Americas.

Designed for manufacturers that require durability, aesthetics and processing efficiency, the new material targets demanding outdoor applications such as window construction, decking, outdoor furniture, façades and recreational components—products that must withstand harsh environmental exposure while maintaining appearance.

Outdoor products are constantly exposed to UV radiation, temperature fluctuations and abrasion. Roehm says Acrylite SunResist addresses these challenges with a PMMA molding compound formulated to create an ultra-thin co-extruded protective layer that blocks harmful UV light up to 400 nm. The cap layer is designed to help preserve color and surface integrity, reducing fading and degradation over time.

Beyond UV protection, the material is engineered for long-term weatherability. According to the company, it maintains color and gloss even after prolonged exposure to sunlight and moisture, supporting outdoor components that must retain a premium appearance year after year.

Acrylite SunResist also enhances finished parts with high-quality surface performance, offering precise gloss control, surface hardness and abrasion resistance, as well as chemical resistance.

Röhm says these features allow manufacturers to achieve high-end aesthetics while maintaining robust performance. The compound also delivers high impact strength and heat stability, helping prevent stress cracking, warping and distortion under elevated temperatures.

For processors, the material has been optimized for high flowability and a broad processing window. Roehm says these characteristics enable smoother extrusion and co-extrusion processes, reduce scrap rates and improve overall production efficiency.

The capstock also offers strong adhesion to compatible substrates, designed to prevent brittle edges during cutting and resist cap-layer peeling. This performance is particularly important for complex profiles, cut-to-size parts and post-fabrication operations.

“Acrylite SunResist combines the trusted quality of our acrylite molding compounds with advanced material science,” said Tongzhai Gao, Product Development Manager at Röhm. “It’s not just about protection – it’s about enabling manufacturers to deliver products that stay beautiful and strong for years, while improving production efficiency.”

Röhm says the new material responds to growing demand for durable, long-lasting and visually refined outdoor products. The capstock is designed to work with multiple substrates and integrate into existing extrusion and co-extrusion lines, allowing manufacturers to adopt the material with minimal disruption.