Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of PMMA/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposite in mixed surfactant system

PMMA/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposite with superparamagnetic behavior was synthesized by in situ emulsion polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer in the presence of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 colloidal suspension assisted by ultrasonic irradiation. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD and FT-IR spectra confirmed the formation of PMMA/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposite. TEM images showed that Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles with the particle sizes of about 12 nm were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The nanocomposite at room temperature exhibited superparamagnetic behavior under applied magnetic field. The formation mechanism of PMMA/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposite was proposed as well.