Preparation of magnetic polymeric particles via inverse microemulsion polymerization process

Hydrophilic submicron magnetic polymeric particles were prepared using inverse microemulsion polymerization process. Firstly, the magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles elaborated were examined using X-ray diffraction and magnetization analysis of the chemical structure and the magnetic properties, respectively. The results obtained using stoichiometric precipitation of FeCl2 and FeCl3 revealed the magnetite iron oxide properties. Secondly, various magnetic polymeric latexes were prepared by investigating the effect of surfactant (AOT) concentration, the amount of cross-linker (MBA), the initiator nature and the microemulsion elaboration methodology. The colloidal characterization of the final magnetic polymeric latexes revealed to be submicronic in size, spherical in morphology, containing 5-23 wt% iron oxide and superparamagnetic in character. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.