Preparation of Magnetic Thermoplastic elastomer Nanocomposites Containing Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles

Because of the unique physical properties (regarding size and shape, magnetic characteristics and etc.), magnetic colloids in the nanometric size range have found increasing and very promising applications in the various fields. In most applications, spherical nanoparticles have been used. However, spherical magnetic nanoparticles still need to be improved for controlling particle sizes, surface functionalizations, and their environmental compatibility due to the structural limitation of spherical particles when multi-functionality is required on their surfaces.The most common method for the synthesis of magnetite is by co-precipitation from a solution of Fe(III) and Fe(II) salts in the presence of a base [1]. Magnetite nanoparticles have been also incorporated into more complicated architectures, such as polymeric gels providing formation of magnetic field sensitive gels [2]. These gels contain magnetic particles dispersed homogeneously and confined in a polymer network. Under a non-uniform magnetic field, the particles undergo motion, which in turn induces elongation, contraction, or bending of the gels with short response time.In this work, we report on the synthesis of oleate-coated magnetite nanoparticles in the first step. Then the heterocoagulation method was used to prepared magnetic nanocomposites consisting thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and magnetite nanoparticles. Some potential for preparation and physical characterization of tailored magnetic inorganic nanoparticles and magnetic nanocomposites will be demonstrated in this paper. This type of magnetic nanocomposite particles could be used to for preparation of thermo-responsive material with shape memory.