Development of novel anisotropic Janus composite particles based on Urushiol-iron/polystyrene polymer

Abstract

Abstract The main component of raw lacquer is urushiol (U) which can react with metal compounds. In this paper, we focused on the application of raw lacquer in the synthesis of anisotropic Janus composite particles based on urushiol-iron/polystyrene polymer. The surface of polystyrene (PS) microspheres formed rich sulfonic groups after being sulfonated with concentrated sulfuric acid, which easily absorb Fe3+. Urushiol reacted with Fe3+ forming the urushiol-iron (UFe) coordination compound, and then generated UFe/PS core–shell composite microspheres. After swelling polymerization with 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl ester (MPS), the asymmetric Janus composite particles of UFe–PMPS were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to explore the structure and composition of the UFe/PS core–shell composite microspheres and the UFe–PMPS Janus composite particles. Results showed that UFe/PS core–shell composite microspheres with different thickness of UFe shell could be obtained by adjusting the sulfonated time. After UFe/PS with appropriate thickness of UFe shell swelled with MPS and was polymerized, dumbbell-like UFe–PMPS Janus composite particles were prepared successfully. The UFe–PMPS Janus composite particles were compartmentalized two parts with different morphology. The anisotropic Janus composite particles of UFe–PMPS will be expected to have application in functional materials or oriental coatings.