Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
With an average diameter of 80–200 nm, nylon fibers embedded with ferrite nanoparticles were electrospun using a point to plate geometry. The nickel-ferrite particles with a diameter range of 20–30 nm were used to prepare the composite electrospun nanofibers. The ferrite nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymer solution using a surfactant dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA). Ultrasonication was used to dissolve nylon-6 into the formic acid/particle dispersion. Electrospinning of virgin polymer solution and particle filled polymer system was carried out with polymer concentration of 15% w/v. The particle loading was 3%w/w. SEM of the particle filled fibers show some bead formations and a diameter distribution of about 80–200 nm. The DSC analyses of the neat nylon polymer fibers and ferrite filled nanofibers show an increase in glass transition temperature from 55°C to 72°C. The melting temperature showed a decrease from 226°C to 201°C. The TEM images show the presence and some alignment of particles in the polymer. The electron diffraction pattern of ferrite nanoparticles confirms its crystalline nature.