Patent ID: 8691046

Claim:
A method of activating and dispensing a composition, the composition comprising: solid particles comprising a first polymer; and a liquid carrier into which the solid particles are emulsified, dispersed and/or suspended; wherein: the composition is a pumpable material at temperatures of from about 32° F. to about 140° F.; the composition forms a substantially homogeneous, molten blend when energy activated at a processing temperature in excess of 140° F.; the substantially homogenous molten blend becomes a fused solid material when it cools to a temperature below 140° F.; the fused solid material is capable of bonding one or more substrates at a point of application; the method comprising the steps of: a.) feeding said composition from a reservoir to a a pressurized supply source; b.) passing said composition from said pressurized supply source into a vessel; c.) passing said composition from said vessel through an insulator device, wherein said insulator prevents heat from traversing backward into the supply source, and into a reactor; d.) activating said composition within said reactor; e.) passing said composition from said reactor into a dispensing unit and; f.) dispensing the composition, wherein the reactor comprises: a core element having an inlet, an outlet and at least one circumferential groove, said circumferential groove being present between the outer sidewall of the core element and the inner sidewall of an outer member and in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; and an energy source for energizing the composition as it passes through the groove.