Patent ID: 8518449

Claim:
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.