Abstract: This invention is directed to ethylene based copolymer pellets having an acid content at least 5% by weight and having an effective amount of a surface coating to increase the stick temperature of the copolymer above 25° C.; wherein the ethylene based copolymer comprises repeating polymerized units of (d) at least 50% by weight, based on the weight of the copolymer, of ethylene, (e) 5 to 30% by weight, based on the weight of the copolymer, of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; and (f) up to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the copolymer, of an alkyl acrylate or an alkyl methacrylate, wherein the copolymer has 0-100% of the acid groups neutralized with metal ion selected from the following group: zinc, magnesium, sodium and lithium and the surface coating comprises an effective amount of a metal salt of an aliphatic acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, generally in an amount of 25 to 6,000 ppm (parts per million).

Abstract: This invention is directed to ethylene based copolymer pellets having an acid content at least 5% by weight and having an effective amount of a surface coating to increase the stick temperature of the copolymer above 25° C.