Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Heat Resistant, Superparamagnetic Poly(ether-imide) Nanocomposites Containing Xanthene: Representing a Strategy for Improving Thermal Stability of Magnetic Polymer-Based Nanocomposites

Two superparamagnetic and heat resistant xanthene based poly(ether-imide) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used for studying the morphology, crystalline phase, thermal stability and magnetization properties of the nanocomposites. The neat form of the corresponding poly(ether-imide) was also prepared by thermal imidization method and its structure was confirmed by FTIR, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR), UV-Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. In order to investigate the effects of modifying the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on thermal properties of the nanocomposites, the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was coated with SiO2 and polysuccinimide (PSI), sequentially. Then, both the unmodified Fe3O4 and surface-modified Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@SiO2-PSI) nanoparticles were used as fillers for the polymer matrix. According to the results, the prepared nanocomposites were superparamagnetic and showed higher thermal stability in comparison to the neat poly(ether-imide). Furthermore, poly(ether-imide)/Fe3O4@SiO2-PSI (PIEN 10b) nanocomposite showed higher thermal stability and dispersed better in the polymer matrix [in comparison to poly(ether-imide)/Fe3O4 (PIEN 10 a)] due to the presence of imide groups and high hydroxyl content of the functional Fe3O4 nanoparticles which caused high interactions between poly(ether-imide) and functional Fe3O4. Furthermore, the presence of methyl, ether and bulky xanthene groups in the poly(ether-imide(backbone improved the solubility of the neat polymer in organic solvents. These properties can be very helpful for extending new applications of poly(ether-imide)s.