Urushi as a Green Component for Thermally Curable Colloidal Lignin Particles and Hydrophobic Coatings

Colloidal lignin nanoparticles are promising building blocks for sustainable functional materials. However, their instability in organic solvents and aqueous alkali limits their applicability. Current stabilization methods require nonrenewable and toxic reagents or tedious workup procedures. Here we show a method to prepare hybrid nanoparticles using only natural components. Urushi, a form of black oriental lacquer, and lignin are coaggregated to form hybrid particles, with Urushi acting as a sustainable component that stabilizes the particles via hydration barrier effect and thermally triggered internal cross-linking. The weight fractions of the two components can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of stabilization. Hybrid particles with Urushi content >25 wt % undergo interparticle cross-linking that produces multifunctional hydrophobic protective coatings that improve the water resistance of wood. This approach provides a sustainable and efficient method for stabilizing lignin nanoparticles and opens up neoteric possibilities for the development of lignin-based advanced functional materials.