Thermoplastic polymer particles and methods of production and uses thereof

Abstract

Thermoplastic polymer particles can be produced that comprise a thermoplastic polymer and an emulsion stabilizer (e.g., nanoparticles and/or surfactant) associated with an outer surface of the particles. The nanoparticles may be embedded in the outer surface of the particles. Melt emulsification can be used to produce said particles. For example, a method may include: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and the emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polymer in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form the thermoplastic polymer particles; and separating the thermoplastic polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.