Abstract: | Magnetic Fe3O4–poly(aniline‐co‐o‐anthranilic acid) nanoparticles were prepared by a novel and simple method: anthranilic acid assisted polymerization. The synthetic strategy involved two steps. First, Fe3O4 nanoparticles capped by anthranilic acid were obtained by a chemical precipitation method, and then the aniline and oxidant were added to the modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles to prepare well‐dispersed Fe3O4–poly(aniline‐co‐o‐anthranilic acid) nanoparticles. Fe3O4–poly(aniline‐co‐o‐anthranilic acid) nanoparticles exhibited a superparamagnetic behavior (i.e., no hysteresis loop) and high‐saturated magnetization (Ms = 21.5 emu/g). The structure of the composite was characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectra, X‐ray powder diffraction patterns, and transmission electron microscopy, which proved that the Fe3O4–poly(aniline‐co‐o‐anthranilic acid) nanoparticles were about 20 nm. Moreover, the thermal properties of the composite were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, and it showed excellent thermal stability. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1666–1671, 2006 |