Patent ID: 7470732

Claim:
A method of preparing an encapsulated pigment composition via suspension polymerization, the encapsulated pigment composition comprising one or more substantially spherical-shaped beads, wherein the substantially spherical-shaped beads comprise one or more high aspect ratio particles encapsulated within an encapsulating material, the method comprising the steps of: dispersing high aspect ratio particles in at least one of a monomer or a polymer and a cross-linking agent to form a suspension mixture; adding the suspension mixture to an aqueous mixture comprising a suspension agent; heating and mixing the aqueous reaction mixture to encourage the formation of substantially spherical-shaped beads, wherein most of the substantially spherical-shaped beads encapsulate one or more high aspect ratio particles to an extent that the high aspect ratio particles will not become delaminated during processing; quenching the aqueous reaction mixture after the substantially spherical-shaped beads are formed; and collecting the substantially spherical-shaped beads.