Abstract
A facile method for the fabrication of colloidal photonic crystal coatings with tunable structural color on a wood surface was presented. The photonic crystal coatings were formed from monodisperse latex spheres composed of poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid) (P(St-MMA-AA)). The latex spheres with a hard PSt core and elastomeric P(MMA-AA) shell were prepared using the emulsion polymerization method. The sessile drop method, a rapid single-step self-assembly method through simple evaporation of emulsion, was used to form three-dimensional colloidal crystals. Coatings with brilliant colors and uniform Bragg’s diffraction covering the entire visible region were fabricated by controlling the sphere size. This simple method provided new insight into the development of wood color embellishment.
Highlights
Research shows that colors can be divided into two types: pigmentary colors and structural colors, depending on the origin of the colors
This study aims to fabricate photonic crystal coatings with structural color onto a wood surface
The colloidal crystal coatings were self-assembled from wood surface using the sessile drop method
Summary
Research shows that colors can be divided into two types: pigmentary colors and structural colors, depending on the origin of the colors. In the field of wood processing, the main strategy for coloring wood is by attaching dyes or pigments onto wood cells, which can be referred to as the pigmentation process. Wood is usually colored by applying pigmented coatings and painted for protection. The dyes for interior wood can be classified in the following common categories: direct dyes, basic dyes, acid dyes, and reactive dyes. The change of wood color is the result of dyes and pigments reforming the absorb and reflect wavelengths of visible light [1,2]. In the traditional coloring wood process, liquid waste containing pigments and dyes will cause water and soil pollution, and the colors fade away with time
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