Double in situ synthesis of Fe3O4/polyamide 6 magnetic nanocomposite

A double in situ approach was adopted to fabricate Fe3O4/polyamide 6 magnetic nanocomposite by the combination of the formation of Fe3O4 NPs and the polymerization of ε-caprolactam in one-pot. The ε-caprolactam was not only used as a solvent for the synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs, but also served as monomer in anionic ring-opening polymerization. The properties of Fe3O4/polyamide 6 nanocomposite were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA and SQUID. The results indicated that the nanocomposite consisted of dispersed Fe3O4 NPs (ca. 15 nm) and polyamide 6, and it had superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization of 1.7 emu/g.

Graphical AbstractA double in situ approach was developed to fabricate Fe3O4/polyamide 6 magnetic nanocomposite by the combination of the formation of Fe3O4 NPs and the polymerization of ε-caprolactam in one-pot. The nanocomposite consisted of dispersed Fe3O4 NPs (ca. 15 nm) and polyamide 6, and it had superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization of 1.7 emu/g.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► We develop a lactam method for the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles.
► ZnO and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesized using three lactams as solvent.
► Their dispersibility and size is dependent on the types of lactam.
► The optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles are investigated.
► Amino acid is used to substitute for lactams capped on the ZnO nanoparticles.