Self-assembly of poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid) (P(St-MMA-AA)) colloidal microspheres on wood surface by thermal-assisted gravity deposition

Abstract

P(St-MMA-AA) microspheres were used as raw materials to develop photonic crystal coatings with structural color on wood surfaces by thermal-assisted gravity deposition method. Morphologies of the microspheres and photonic crystal coatings as well as the self-assembly of microspheres on wood surface were studied. Microspheres with core–shell morphology were synthesized by emulsion polymerization and their good monodispersity ensured well-ordered arrangement of photonic crystals on the wood surface. The structural color of coatings could be controlled by the particle size of microspheres. Under thermal influence, microspheres aggregated at the emulsion surface and were orderly arranged forming two-dimensional photonic crystals with structural color during the self-assembly process. Due to continuous evaporation of water, the photonic crystals accumulated, thickened and finally formed the colored structural coating with iridescent effect on the wood surface. The results of this study provided an environmentally friendly and novel methodology to improve the color of wood surfaces.