US Patent 11034795 Surface-treated polymeric particles, slurry containing the same, and use thereof

Surface-treated polymeric particles which are dispersible in water or an aqueous solution without the aid of any surfactant. Surface treatment of hydrophobic polymeric particles is carried out to increase the surface energy and to render the surfaces of the particles hydrophilic, thereby eliminating the need for a surfactant to disperse the polymeric particles in water or an aqueous solution. As such, a surfactantless slurry can be formed from the surface-treated particles for the fabrication of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite structures.