Polymer particle coating method

1. A method of fixedly coating (a) particles of a solid, heat absorbing material on the surface of (b) prepolymer and/or polymer particles, individually and collectively, the polymer particles, said method comprising i) heating the polymer particles to a temperature below that at which the surface of the particles begins to become tacky or manifest adherent properties, (ii) heating the particles of the solid, heat absorbing material to a temperature at or above the temperature at which the prepolymer or polymer of the polymer particles becomes tacky or begins to manifest adherent properties, (iii) bringing the two types of particles into contact with each other prior to, concurrent with or following the heating thereof, and (iv) allowing the particles of the solid, heat absorbing material to become fixed to the surface of the polymer particles as a result, in whole or in part, of the transfer of heat energy from the higher temperature heat absorbing particles to the surface of the polymer particles at their point of contact.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the the heat transfer from the particles of the heat absorbing material to the polymer particles at the point of contact causes the latter, at the point of contact, to become tacky or manifest adherent properties, other than merely softening of the polymer or prepolymer material, thereby fixedly binding the particles of the heat absorbing material to the surface or within the surface layer of the polymer particles.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of intimately mixing the polymer particles and the particles of the solid, heat absorbing material, wherein the particles of the solid, heat absorbing material are heated to a temperature that is higher than that of the polymer particles so that when the two are in intimate contact with one another the heat transfer from the particles of the heat absorbing material to the polymer particles at the point of contact causes the latter, at the point of contact, to soften whereby the pressure of mixing the two together causes the former to become fixedly embedded in the surface of the latter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer particles and the particles of the heat absorbing material are heated individually and subsequently combined.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer particles and the particles of the heat absorbing material are admixed and the admixture heated using a heating means that is selective for or preferential to the particles of the heat absorbing material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer particles are heated to or within five degrees centigrade of their Vicat temperature and the particles of the heat absorbing material are heated to a temperature at least 10° C. higher than the Vicat temperature of the polymer particles.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer particles are heated to a temperature that is above the Vicat temperature and at least 2° C. lower than the temperature at which the polymer or prepolymer begins to manifest adhesive characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the particles of the heat absorbing material are heated to a temperature that is at least 20° C. higher than the temperature at which the polymer particles begin to manifest adhesive characteristics.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the particles of the heat absorbing material are heated to a temperature that is at least 50° C. higher than the temperature at which the polymer particles begin to manifest adhesive characteristics.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the polymer particles are heated to a temperature that is at least 5° C. lower than the temperature at which the polymer or prepolymer begins to manifest adhesive characteristics.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat absorbing material is a colorant, inorganic viscosity modifier, filler, flame retardant, catalyst, antimicrobial agent, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, sequestering agent, blowing agent, granualated activated carbon, or an EMI/RFI shielding additive.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles of the heat absorbing material are no more than 1/10 th the size of the polymer particles.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the average particle size of the heat absorbing material is no more than 1/20 th that of the polymer particles.