Preparation of Nano- and Microparticles Obtained from Polymerization Reaction and Their Application to Surface Coating of Woody Materials

A surface coating of polymer particles of different hydrophobicity and wide-ranged size is helpful for the surface modification of materials such as woody thin board (WTB) derived from biomass. A preparation method for polymer particles was, in this study, proposed using a capillary-type flow system. Under hydrothermal conditions, the refinement of dispersed oil droplets in water (O/W emulsions) and the polymerization reaction could be simultaneously advanced, and polymer particles of polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) with a particle size of about 100 nm could be synthesized. The coating of polymer particles gave an improved effect on the water repellency of WTBs due to the hydrophobicity of polymer particles and an alteration of surface roughness, and it also provided long-term stability (more than 6 years).