Fabrication of Epoxide Functional Hydrophobic Composite Polymer Particles by Suspension Polymerization and Subsequent Doping with Fe³O⁴ Nanoparticles

Abstract

This investigation described a simple three-step process for the fabrication of micrometer-sized magnetic composite polymer particles. This composite polymer particle consisted of crosslinked hydrophobic poly(lauryl methacrylate-divinyl benzene) (P(LMA-DVB)) core, prepared by suspension polymerization. Then, P(LMA-DVB) copolymer core particles were coated with poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) by seeded polymerization to introduce epoxide functionality. Finally, P(LMA-DVB)/PGMA composite particles were doped with iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles following in situ co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ from their alkali aqueous solution. The presence of strained oxirane ring derived from PGMA segment present at the surface is expected to induce high affinity towards precipitated magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The compositional structure of P(LMA-DVB)/PGMA/Fe₃O₄ composite polymer particles was confirmed by Fourier Transform IR (FTIR), electron microscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX).