Polyaniline Stabilized\nMagnetite Nanoparticle Reinforced\nEpoxy Nanocomposites

Abstract

Magnetic epoxy polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) reinforced\nwith magnetite\n(Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared\nat different particle loading levels. The particle surface functionality\ntuned by conductive polyaniline (PANI) is achieved via a surface initiated\npolymerization (SIP) approach. The effects of nanoparticle loading,\nsurface functionality, and temperature on both the viscosity and storage/loss\nmodulus of liquid epoxy resin suspensions and the physicochemical\nproperties of the cured solid PNCs are systematically investigated.\nThe glass transition temperature (<i>T</i>_g)\nof the cured epoxy filled with the functionalized NPs has shifted\nto the higher temperature in the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)\ncompared with that of the cured pure epoxy. Enhanced mechanical properties\nof the cured epoxy PNCs filled with the functionalized NPs are observed\nin the tensile test compared with that of the cured pure epoxy and\ncured epoxy PNCs filled with as-received NPs. The uniform NP distribution\nin the cured epoxy PNCs filled with functionalized NPs is observed\nby scanning electron microscope (SEM). These magnetic epoxy PNCs show\nthe good magnetic properties and can be attached by a permanent magnet.\nEnhanced interfacial interaction between NPs and epoxy is revealed\nin the fracture surface analysis. The PNCs formation mechanism is\nalso interpreted from the comprehensive analysis based on the TGA,\nDSC, and FTIR in this work.