Preparation of Polyacrylamide Microgel and Magnetic Microgel in Aerosol OT Reversed Micelles

Abstract

By the polymerization of acrylamide initiated with potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) in water solubilized by Aerosol OT (AOT) reversed micelles, of polyacrylamide particles became linked to a microgel by N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). Magnetic microgel particles containing magnetite particles were prepared based on the relation of [water] to [AOT] (Rω) at 60°C. The influence of Rω, [MBAAm], and [magnetite] on particle size was examined.The following results were obteined : 1) Monodisperse and spherical polyacrylamide particles were produced in the systems of Rω=15 and 20, but in the systems of Rω=25 and 30, they become bimodal. Particle size increased with Rω. These results are discussed in relation to the solubilized states of water in reversed micelle interion.2) Monodisperse and spherical microgel particles were obtained and their size was noted to increased with Rω and [MBAAm].3) Spherical magnetic microgel particles including 50 % of the initial [Fe3O4] were obtained and their size was noted to increase with Rω and [MBAAm], but not to be affected by [Fe3O4]. In these systems, the rate of polymerization was enhanced by SO42- radical produced through redox reaction of Fe2+ of magnetite with S2O82- of KPS.