Polymerization and characterization of novel poly (Acrylonitrile -co- Styrene/ Pyrrole) nanoparticles: A comparison between microwave and conventional method

In this study, poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene/pyrrole) or poly(AN-co-ST/Py) copolymer was successfully synthesized using microwave preparation technique, and its comparison with the conventional heating method is investigated. Different polymerization factors affecting on the preparation conditions and conversion yield such as monomer concentration, comonomers ratio, initiator concentration, cosolvent ratio, cosolvent type, polymerization temperature, and polymerization time have a considerable effect on the conversion yield %, functional groups, and molecular weight. The copolymerization process was approved by Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The formation of poly(AN-co-ST/Py) nanoparticles was confirmed by SEM, and their possible formation mechanisms were also proposed. The SEM images of poly(AN-co-ST/Py) prepared by the microwave method showed that the synthesized copolymer had spikes or rods with spherical structure of the produced copolymers than the poly(AN-co-ST/Py) nanoparticles prepared by the conventional heating method. Microwave method showed advantages for the produced copolymers compared to that prepared by conventional method, where it can offer a copolymer in short time, high yield, and more thermally stable copolymers, rather than conventional method.