Patent ID: 8778495

Claim:
A coated particle, comprising: a particle selected from the group consisting of sand, silica, ceramic, and bauxite; and a coating comprising: a solid phenol-formaldehyde novolac resin containing less than 0.5 wt % free phenol; and about 1 wt % to about 8 wt % of a non-phenolic solvent consisting of a mixture of dibasic esters, wherein the solid phenol-formaldehyde novolac resin with the non-phenolic solvent has a melt viscosity of 1,260 cps at 150° C. to less than 5,000 cps at 150° C., wherein the mixture of dibasic esters comprises about 20 wt % to about 35 wt % dimethyl adipate, about 65 wt % to about 80 wt % dimethyl glutarate, and up to 3 wt % dimethyl succinate, wherein the solid phenol-formaldehyde novolac resin has a melting point of 77° C. to 93° C., and wherein the coating contains no other non-phenolic solvent.