A chemical process involves polymerization within microspheres, whereas a physical process involves the dispersion of polymer in a nonsolvent. Nano-sized monodisperse microspheres are usually prepared by chemical processes such as water-based emulsions, seed suspension polymerization, nonaqueous dispersion polymerization, and precipitation polymerizations. Polymerization was performed in a four-necked, separate-type flask equipped with a stirrer, a condenser, a nitrogen inlet, and a rubber stopper for adding the initiator with a syringe. Nitrogen was bubbled through the mixture of reagents for 1 hr. before elevating the temperature. Functional silane (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was used for the modification of silica nanoparticles and the self-assembled monolayers obtained were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), laser scattering system (LSS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, polymer microspheres were polymerized by radical polymerization of γ-mercaptopropyl modified silica nanoparticles (MPSN) and acrylamide monomer via precipitation polymerization; then, their characteristics were investigated. From the elemental analysis results, it can be concluded that the conversion rate of acrylamide monomer was 93% and that polyacrylamide grafted to MPSN nanospheres via the radical precipitation polymerization with AAm in ethanol solvent. The microspheres were successfully polymerized by the 'graft from' method.

(3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was used as a silylation agent, and modified silica nanoparticles were prepared by solution polymerization. 2.0 g of silica nanoparticles, 150 ml of toluene, and 20 ml of MPTMS were put into a 300 ml flask, and these mixtures were dispersed with ultrasonic vibration for 60 min. 0.2 g of hydroquinone as an inhibitor and 1 to 2 drops of 2,6-dimethylpyridine as a catalyst were added into the mixture. The mixture was then stirred with a magnetic stirrer for 8 hrs. at room temperature. After the reaction, the mixture was centrifuged for 1 hr. at 6000rpm. After precipitation, 150 ml of ethanol was added, and ultrasonic vibration was applied for 30 min. After the ultrasonic vibration, centrifugation was carried out again for 1 hr. at 6000rpm. Organo-modification of silica nanoparticles with a γ-methacryloxypropyl functional group was successfully achieved by solution polymerization in the ethanol solution. The characteristics of the γ-mercaptopropyl modified silica nanoparticles (MPSN) were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, THERMO VG SCIENTIFIC, MultiLab 2000), a laser scattering system (LSS, TOPCON Co., GLS-1000), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, JASCO INTERNATIONL CO., FT/IR-4200), scanning electron microscopy (SEM, HITACHI, S-2400), an elemental analysis (EA, Elementar, Vario macro/micro) and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA, Perkin Elmer, TGA 7, Pyris 1). From the analysis results, the content of the methacryloxypropyl group was 0.98 mmol/g and the conversion rate of acrylamide monomer was 93%. SEM analysis results showed that the organo-modification of ultra-fine particles effectively prevented their agglomeration and improved their dispensability.