Preparation and property characterization of PAA/Fe3O4 nanocomposite

PAA/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were prepared by mixing nano-Fe3O4 and polyacrylic acid (PAA) ethanol solution and then evaporating the solvent. The materials were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), dynamic ultra-micro hardness tester (DUMHT) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results showed that PAA coordinated with nano-Fe3O4 to form a cross-linking structure. The presence of nano-Fe3O4 enhanced the thermal stability of the nanocomposite. The elasticity and hardness of the nanocomposite increased, and the indentation depth reduced with the increase of Fe3O4 content in the composites. The nanocomposites showed superparamagnetic properties at 300 K.