Investigation of waterborne thermochromic topcoat film with color-changing microcapsules on Chinese fir surface

This study investigated a waterborne thermochromic topcoat film using color-changing microcapsules on a Chinese fir surface. The concentration of microcapsules of 5.0% produced the best effect on color changing in the waterborne topcoat film. The gloss of the waterborne topcoat film decreased with the increase of microcapsule concentration and showed the highest gloss when the microcapsule concentration was 5.0%. The topcoat film showed good adhesion when the microcapsule concentration was 0–30.0%. When the microcapsule concentration of thermochromic powder was 5.0%, the comprehensive performance of the waterborne topcoat film was the best. When the temperature rises, the methyl red of the leuco agent is heated to release electrons, and the bisphenol A of the chromogenic agent accepts electrons to change the color from red to yellow. The waterborne thermochromic topcoat film provides the prospect for development of intelligent indoor furniture with color varying with the temperature in different seasons.