Preparation of poly (styrene)-b-poly (acrylic acid)/γ-Fe2O3 composites

The use of a block copolymer, poly (styrene)-b-poly (acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) to prepare a magnetic nanocomposite was investigated. Poly (styrene)-poly (t-butyl acrylate) block copolymer, being synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization, was hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid for obtaining PS-b-PAA. The obtained PS-b-PAA was then compounded with the modified gamma-Fe2O3, and subsequently the magnetic nanocomposite was achieved. The products were characterized by H-1 NMR, FTIR, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results showed that the nanocomposites exhibited soft magnetism, with the mean diameter of 100 nm approximately. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.