Particle-polymer compositions and process for making same

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL MONOMER ON A DISCRETE SUBSTRATE IN THE FORM OF PARTICLES, FIBERS OR FILAMENT TO FORM A DISCRETE, FREE-FLOWING PRODUCT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) STEEPING SAID SUBSTRATE IN AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM TO SATURATE SAID SUBSTRATE WITH SAID MEDIUM, (B) FORMING A FREE-FLOWING SLURRY OF SAID SUBSTRATE AND SAID AQUEOUS MEDIUM, (C) ADDING A LIQUID VINYL MONOMER TO SAID SLURRY, (D) MAINTAINING VINYL MONOMER POLYMERIZATION CATALYST IN SAID SLURRY, (E) POLYMERIZING SAID MONOMER; FORMING VINYL POLYMER ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PARTICLE, FIBER OR FILAMENT OF SAID SUBSTRATE, FIG-01 (F) SAID SUBSTRATE BEING SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF CELLILOSE, WOOL, SILICA AND ASBESTOS, (G) SAID VINYL MONOMER BEING SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF METHACRYLATES, ACRYLATES, STYRENE, RINGSUBSTITUTED STYRENES, VINYL ESTER, VINYL HALIDES, CONJUGATED DIOLEFINS AND ACRYLONITRILE, (H) SAID CATALYST BEING SOLUBLE IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MONOMER AND SAID MEDIUM AND BEING SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PEROXIDES, PERSULFATES, AZO COMPOUNDS AND REDOX CATAYLSTS, AND (I) SAID MEDIUM BEING SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF WATER AND AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS.