Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of polymer/magnetite nanocomposites

A new procedure for the preparation of polymer/magnetic nanoparticle composites is described. Magnetite nanoparticles capped with methacrylate units were dispersed in a toluene solution of the monomer, and polymerization occurred after the addition of the initiator a'-a-azo-iso-butyronitrile at reflux temperature. The structural properties were determined by infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal properties of the resulting nanocomposite were studied extensively with modulated differential scanning calorimetry. An increase in the glass transition temperature was observed after the incorporation of the nanoparticles.