INFLUENCE OF FERRITE NANOPARTICLE ON MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYURETHANE/POLYSTYRENE INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORK

Abstract

Thin flexible mats of NiFe2O4 incorporated PU/PS IPN has been successfully prepared using In-situ polymerization of PU/PS & NiFe2O4 using chain initiator and catalyst. X-ray diffraction peaks corresponding to spinel crystal phase (F d 3m No. 227) in non-crystalline interpenetrating polymer network reveals presence of NiFe2O4 in matrix of PU/PS. FTIR bond also endorsed X-ray diffraction data means presence of NiFe2O4  in matrix of non-crystalline PU/PS IPN. Change in rate of wt% loss with incorporation of NiFe2O4 shows improvement in thermal stability whereas elongation at break evident for enhancement in mechanical properties of PU/PS IPN. M-H magnetic hysteresis reveals establishment of magnetic behavior in non-magnetic PU/PS IPN by incorporation of NiFe2O4 in matrix of IPN. The elements present in thin flexible mat have been confirmed from energy of X-ray generated during X-ray dispersive spectroscopy whereas elemental mapping shows distribution of various elements in flexible mats. The ε', ε" &  ac vs. Frequency reveals increased in dielectric properties of IPN by incorporation of NiFe2O4 during in-situ polymerization of PU/PS IPN.