Microcontact printing of pigment/polymer composite microdots and electrodeposition of Ni walls to fabricate hard and glossy-colored films

Pigment/polymer composite microdots surrounded by honeycomb-shaped Ni walls were prepared to form hard and glossy-colored films. The pigment/polymer microdots were transferred onto bright Ni substrates using microcontact printing (μCP), and subsequently, electrodeposition of Ni was carried out to grow honeycomb Ni walls between the microdots. The colors of the films could be controlled by the types of pigment used, and the colored films showed a glossy appearance because of the presence of the bright Ni substrate and the Ni walls, which are desirable properties in decorative surface finishing. Moreover, the films showed high film hardness. Because the height of the Ni walls was higher than that of the microdots, the Ni walls protected the microdots from physical damage, leading to excellent mechanical strength of the coatings in pencil hardness tests and adhesion tests.

► Colored microdots are transferred on substrates using microcontact printing.
► The colored microdots were protected with electrodeposited Ni walls.
► The colored films showed excellent high hardness.
► Colors of the films were controllable by the types of pigments in dots.