Effect of pH and zeta potential of Pickering stabilizing magnetite nanoparticles on the features of magnetized polystyrene microspheres

  • Ahmed I.A. Abd El-Mageed*
  • , Ahmed Esmail Shalan
  • , Lamiaa A. Mohamed
  • , Hisham A. Essawy
  • , Fouad Taha
  • , Amro K.F. Dyab*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Styrene as a monomer was emulsified in water using several magnetite nanoparticles concentration and pH values. Emulsified styrene drops were used as templates for polymerization, in presence of water soluble free radical initiator, and formation of composite particles. Styrene template drops stabilization was verified by light as well as scanning electron microscopy imaging, which ensured the participation of the particles in building up a mechanical barrier to stop oil drops coalescence. Furthermore, the produced polystyrene composites were strongly attracted to an external magnet. The difference in particles size as a function of pH was elucidated using zeta potential measurements, which indicated dominance of pH on the hydrophilicity of the particles and consequently the extent of emulsification, which in turn affected the size of the obtained microspheres. Under some circumstances, capsules were formed instead of particles. Thereby, it can be concluded that the magnetic microspheres are optimally formed at pH 2.3 independently of the magnetite content used.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)234-244
Number of pages11
JournalPolymer Engineering and Science
Volume61
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Pickering emulsion polymerization
  • magnetite nanoparticles
  • polystyrene, zeta potential, microspheres

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