Preparation and characterization of fluorescent polymer magnetic particles

Magnetic iron oxide (maghemite, Fe₃O₄) particles were encapsulated with fluorescent polymer phase. The resulting fluorescent magnetic polymer particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimeter analysis (TGA), reflection optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fritsch particle sizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. FTIR and XRD confirmed the presence of iron oxide in polymer phase. The TGA and DSC measurements indicated that the magnetic polymer particles have more than 50% iron oxide content and high thermal stability. SEM and reflection optical microscopy under UV light revealed that all maghemite particles were embedded in the polymer spheres and have fluorescent characteristics. The size‐distribution analysis of prepared magnetic particles was shown that the means diameter of the particles slightly increased. According to our magnetometry data, shape of the loops evidences the ferromagnetic character of the material and no evidence of superparamagnetism was seen. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008