We report on a facile route to synthesize snowman-like asymmetric composite particles via -ray initiated seeded emulsion polymerization after a hydrolytic condensation process on the surface of second monomer swollen poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-acrylic acid) seeds. Effects of the amounts and kinds of second monomer and inorganic precursor, different radiation polymerization conditions including dose rates and absorbed doses on the morphology of the obtained particles were investigated. The obtained asymmetric particles can serve as ideal solid surfactants to stabilize the water-in-oil emulsions, and soap-free hierarchical materials were obtained by polymerization of monomers in water or oil phase. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 339-348