PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYCAPROLACTONE MICROPARTICLES LOADING CERIUM(III) NITRATE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2026-0021Keywords:
polycaprolactone, cerium (III) inhibitor, microparticlesAbstract
This study reports the fabrication of cerium(III) nitrate-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles via a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion method, utilizing Sapindus saponaria L. extract as a natural, eco-friendly surfactant. The salt-to-polymer ratio significantly influenced the encapsulation process, with the PC75 formulation achieving an optimal encapsulation efficiency of 26.83%. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements showed that the microparticles (PC50 and PC75) possessed nanoscale dimensions (280–310 nm) and high colloidal stability (zeta potential < -30 mV). FESEM and EDX characterizations revealed a spherical morphology with a core-shell architecture, while FTIR and XRD analyses verified that the cerium nitrate was successfully embedded within the PCL matrix without altering the polymer's semicrystalline structure. These results demonstrate that the synthesized PCL microparticles, stabilized by a plant-derived surfactant, serve as promising candidates for the development of sustainable, controlled-release additives in anti-corrosion coating applications.
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