Study on synthesis and anticorrosion properties of polymer nanocomposites based on super paramagnetic Fe2O3·NiO nanoparticle and polyaniline

In this study, Fe2O3·NiO/PANi nanocomposites were prepared and their anticorrosion properties were investigated. The Fe2O3·NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation–oxidation methods. Fe2O3·NiO–PANi nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of Fe2O3·NiO nanoparticle. The structure of the polymer nanocomposite was characterized by SEM and X-ray method. The electrical conductivity, magnetic properties and anticorrosion properties of the materials were examined by the conventional four probe method, vibrating magnetometer and by impedance measurement method. The results show that the Fe2O3·NiO nanoparticles have the uniform size with the size ranging from 50 to 60 nm. By the formation of polymer nanocomposite, the Fe2O3·NiO phase is well dispersed in the PANi polymer matrix. But the Fe2O3·NiO nanoparticles are not exfoliated from its agglomerate structure. The polymer nanocomposite showed both magnetic and conductive properties. With increasing Fe2O3·NiO content, both the saturated magnetization and the coercive force increase and reach the value of 0.31 emu/g and 162.56 Oe by the Fe2O3·NiO content of 5%, respectively. In contrast, the electrical conductivity of the polymer nanocomposite decreases with increasing Fe2O3·NiO content from 0.353 S/cm of neat PANi to 0.075 S/cm by the Fe2O3·NiO content of 5%. From the anticorrosion investigation, it was revealed that the protective performance of polyurethane paint containing Fe2O3·NiO/PANi nanocomposite was significantly improved with increasing Fe2O3·NiO/PANi content.