Preparation of poly(styrene–glucidylmethacrylate)/Fe 3O 4 composite microspheres with high magnetite contents

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 321; no. 6; pp. 572 - 577
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jing, Yu, Demei, Chen, Wei, Xie, Yunchuan, Wan, Weitao, Liang, Honglu, Min, Chao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 2009
• Subjects: Dispersion polymerization; High magnetite content; Magnetic polymer microsphere; Surface modification; Surface modification; High magnetite content; Magnetic polymer microsphere; Dispersion polymerization
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2008.08.093

Magnetic polymer composite microspheres with high magnetite contents were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) and glucidylmethacrylate (GMA), in which Fe 3O 4 nanoparticles were co-stabilized by oleic acid and silane surfactants. The microstructure of the composite microspheres was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results demonstrated the presence of a hybrid morphology with organic polymer-encapsulated inorganic particles. Subsequently, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were used to evaluate the magnetite content of the microspheres. It was found that an accordant magnetite content of about 70 wt%, could be obtained for the magnetic polymer microspheres, a value significantly higher than those reported thus far. The possible mechanism for the formation of the microspheres was proposed.