ABSTRACT
The thermodynamic conditions for the engulfment of one set of particles by another has been given in terms of interfacial energies. Experimentally, it has been shown that a polymer with a high glass transition temperature can be engulfed by a particle of low glass transition temperature; also, that Inorganic particles can be engulfed by polymer particles. As a precursor to the engulfment stage heterocoagulation can be used for bringing the particles together in a ‘sticking’ mode. This appears to be a general process which is applicable to a number of scientific areas, e.g. in biology, phagocytosis, and in material science for the preparation of composite particles.