Preparation of poly (styrene)-b-poly (acrylic acid)/γ-Fe2O3 composites

The use of a block copolymer , poly (styrene)-b-poly (acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) to prepare a magnetic nanocomposite was investigated. Poly (styrene)-poly ( t -butyl acrylate) block copolymer , being synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization , was hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid for obtaining PS-b-PAA. The obtained PS-b-PAA was then compounded with the modified γ-Fe 2 O 3 , and subsequently the magnetic nanocomposite was achieved. The products were characterized by 1 H NMR, FTIR , gel permeation chromatography , thermogravimetric analysis , transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer . The results showed that the nanocomposites exhibited soft magnetism , with the mean diameter of 100   nm approximately.