Preparation of hybrid polymer nanocomposite microparticles by a nanoparticle stabilised dispersion polymerisation

Abstract

We report the use of nanoparticles to stabilise free radical dispersion polymerisations, without the need for any conventional stabiliser, leading to the preparation of polystyrene nanocomposites. The products are well characterised spherical polymer microparticles decorated with nanoparticles on their surfaces. In this paper we demonstrate the process with Fe₃O₄nanoparticles yielding a product with a strong magnetic property. By using this in situpolymerisation technique, not only can nanoparticles in aqueous solution be harvested, but also this provides a completely new route to polymer composites. Thus, functional nanoparticles can be immobilised onto the surface of the polymer beads to modify significantly their properties.