Magnetic polymeric microspheres based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), divinylbenzene (DVB) and magnetic materials were prepared via suspension polymerization. We studied the influence of the suspension or semi-suspension polymerization, magnetic materials and divinylbenzene concentration on the characteristics of the microspheres. Polymeric particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, accelerated surface area and porosimetry analyzer (ASAP), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The magnetic materials were also characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic polymeric microspheres based on MMA and DVB (P(MMA-co-DVB)-M), containing magnetic particles on the surface or inside the microspheres, were successfully obtained. The polymer particles obtained through semi-suspension polymerization had smaller sizes and narrower particle size distribution than particles obtained by conventional suspension. The composites showed a superparamagnetic behavior. The magnetic microspheres synthesized in this work have potential to be modified and applied as ion-exchange resins or catalyst supports.
suspension polymerization; magnetic properties; methyl methacrylate; divinylbenzene; magnetic materials