Production of Micrometer-sized Composite Polymer-magnetic Spheres Using as Precursor Metallurgical Wastes

Micrometer-sized composite polymer-magnetic spheres consisting of a magnetic-spherical core with a polystyrene shell were produced. The magnetic-spherical core was produced by plasma thermal conversion of waste powders precursor (iron oxide) generated during the conventional process of steel production. Precursor powders were projected into an Ar-He plasma plume using industrial thermal-spray equipment. The results are a total conversion of the precursor powders into magnetic-spherical particles with diameters in the micrometer size range. The surfaces of the magnetic-spheres were functionalized by a chemistry hydrolysis method using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and creating superficial amine structures that improved the adherence of the final polystyrene shells that was polymerized by adapting the miniemulsion process. The products at the different synthesis steps were characterized by diverse techniques, such as: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the magnetic properties were investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer.