Characterization of Fe3O4/P (St-MPEO) amphiphilic magnetic polymer microspheres

Abstract

Amphiphilic magnetic microspheres consisting of styrene and poly (ethylene oxide) macromonomer (MPEO) were prepared by dispersion copolymerization in the presence of Fe3O4 magnetic fluid in an ethanol/. water medium. The sizes of the magnetic microspheres and their distribution were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The surface,morphology and,the average surface roughness oft the microspheres were investigated by virtue of atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found,that the microspheres exhibit microscopic phase-separate and the mean square surface roughness of the microspheres increases with . increasing MPEO used in the copolymerization. The amphiphilic magnetic microspheres containing 0.4-3.5 mg/g hydroxyl groups could be prepared from MPEO with different concentrations and styrene.Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technolog