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Analysis of networks based on styrene and divinylbenzene containing iron anchored using variable pressure scanning electron microscopy
Author(s) -
De Santa Maria L. C.,
Leite M. C. A. M.,
Costa M. A. S.,
Ribeiro J. M. S.,
Senna L. F.,
Silva M. R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2004.01233.x
Subject(s) - divinylbenzene , styrene , scanning electron microscope , electron microscope , materials science , immunogold labelling , chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , physics , optics , composite material , engineering , polymer
Summary There is great demand for the development of composite materials containing small metal or metal oxides particles, owing to their variable properties and wide application. However, microscopic evaluation of these materials using high‐vacuum scanning electron microscopy is difficult because the samples must undergo a series of preparation steps to reach a high image quality and to avoid becoming shrunk inside the microscope vacuum chamber. Thus, in this study, we used variable pressure scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the morphology and iron distribution on the surface of magnetic microspheres based on poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene). These materials were obtained by suspension copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of fine iron particles. Energy‐dispersive X‐rays were also used to analyse distribution of the iron particles. The results indicate that, under the conditions used, magnetic microspheres with a relatively narrow size distribution were formed. Moreover, the micrographs show that agglomerated iron particles appeared only on the microsphere surface.