Magnetic polyglycidylmethacrylate microspheres by dispersion polymerization

Composite polyglycidylmethacrylate [poly(GMA)] spherical microparticles cap able of responding to magnetic fields were prepared by dispersion polymeriz ation of GMA in the presence of iron oxides. The polymerization reaction wa s carried out in aqueous alcoholic media (methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, a nd butan-1-ol) using poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitri le as a steric stabilizer and initiator, respectively. Quaternary ammonium salt (Aliquat 336) acting as an electrostatic costabilizer favorably affect ed dispersity. The solubility parameter of the reaction mixture determined the size of the resulting microspheres. In addition to the particle size di stribution, the addition of iron oxide to the polymerization medium also ca used a shift of the particle size to higher values. The results show that p oly(GMA) particles contained up to 25 wt % iron oxide. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons.