Synthesis and characterization of a magnetic bio-nanocomposite based on magnetic nanoparticles modified by acrylated fatty acids derived from castor oil

• New bio-nanocomposite derived from acrylated castor oil fatty acids and γ-Fe2O3.
• Acrylated fatty acids adsorbed on γ-Fe2O3 enhances dispersibility.
• Superparamagnetic biobased polymer in situ formed through bulk copolymerizations.
• Magnetic properties of γ-Fe2O3 are not affect after copolymerization reactions.

The present work addresses the synthesis and characterization of a new bio-nanocomposite based on acrylated fatty acids (AFA) derived from castor oil, ethyl acrylate and AFA surface modified γ-Fe2O3 (γ-Fe2O3@AFA) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). It was shown that the in situ formed bio-nanocomposite containing around 2.0 wt.% of γ-Fe2O3 MNPs with average particle size of ca. 9.0 nm, as determined by XRD and TEM measurements, displayed good magnetic response and superparamagnetic behavior. The magnetization measurements indicated that the incorporation of γ-Fe2O3@AFA MNPs into the poly(ethyl acrylate-co-AFA) matrix did not affect the magnetization saturation, remanence and coercivity of the MNPs, preserving the magnetic properties of the γ-Fe2O3 precursor. Additionally, the use of AFA to chemically modify the surface of MNPs opens a new scenario on the chemical modification of MNPs with agents that undergo free-radical reactions, allowing for the proper dispersion of MNPs into the thermoplastic polymer matrices and minimizes the undesired leaching of the MNPs.

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