Method of improving dispersion during a plastic compounding process by use of a particulate polymer

Abstract

The present invention discloses, a method of compounding a polymer such that any additives added to the polymer are well dispersed. The method of the invention comprises providing a polymer premixture that includes a powder source of a first thermoplastic polymer, at least one polymer additive, and a bulk source of a second thermoplastic polymer, and mixing the polymer premixture to form a polymer mixture. The bulk source of the second thermoplastic polymer is characterized as having a particle size that is at least 10 times greater than the particle size in the powder. Moreover, the amount of the powder source used in this method is greater than about 1% of the total weight of the polymer premixture. The present invention further discloses a polymer premixture suitable for use in the method of the invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.