Patent ID: 8063116

Claim:
A method of fixedly coating (a) powder coating prepolymer and/or polymer particles, individually and collectively, the polymer particles, with (b) microparticles of a solid, heat absorbing polymer additive material, said method comprising i) heating the polymer particles to a temperature below that at which the surface of the polymer particles begins to become tacky or manifest adherent properties, (ii) separately heating the microparticles of the solid, heat absorbing additive material to a temperature 5° C. or more above the temperature at which the prepolymer or polymer of the polymer particles becomes tacky or begins to manifest adherent properties, (iii) bringing the separately heated particles into contact with each other, and (iv) allowing the microparticles of the solid, heat absorbing additive 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 additive material particles to the surface of the polymer particles at their point of contact.