Bio-Based Hybrid Magnetic Latex Particles Containing Encapsulated gamma -Fe2O3 by Miniemulsion Copolymerization of Soybean Oil-Acrylated Methyl Ester and Styrene

摘要

This work reports the use of acrylated fatty acid methyl ester (AFAME) as a biomonomer for the synthesis of bio-based hybrid magnetic particles poly(styrene-co-AFAME)/gamma-Fe2O3 produced by miniemulsion polymerization. Poly(styrene-co-AFAME)/gamma-Fe2O3 can be tailored for use in various fields by varying the content of AFAME. The strategy employed is to encapsulate superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as gamma-Fe2O3 into a styrene/AFAME-based copolymer matrix. Raman spectroscopy is employed to ensure the formation of the SPIONs (gamma-Fe2O3) obtained by a co-precipitation technique followed by oxidation of Fe3O4. The functionalization of SPIONs with oleic acid (OA) is carried out to increase the SPIONs-monomer affinity. The presence of OA on the surface of gamma-Fe2O3 is certified by identification of main absorption bands by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermal analysis (differential thermogravimetry/differential thermo analysis and differential scanning calorimetry) results of poly(styrene-co-AFAME)/gamma-Fe2O3 show an increase in AFAME content leading to a lower copolymer glass transition temperature (T-g). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements result in poly(styrene-co-AFAME)/gamma-Fe2O3 particles with diameter in the range of 100-150 nm. It is also observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cryo-TEM techniques that gamma-Fe2O3 particles are successfully encapsulated into the poly(styrene-co-AFAME) matrix.