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Fabrication and Characterization of Nickel Nanowire Polymer Composites
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Abstract
Magnetic polymers are multi-functional composites emerging as a new category of smart materials. This work focuses on fabrication and characterization of magnetic polymer nanocomposites based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer matrix. The magnetic fillers are commercially available Ni nanoparticles and respectively in-house fabricated Ni nanowires. Synthesis of Ni nanowires is achieved by electroless deposition inside nanoporous anodic alumina templates. After template removal, the nanowires are coated with 1-Octodecanethiol surfactant and mixed with PDMS using a FlackTek SpeedMixer™. In parallel, nanoparticles are mixed with PDMS, without undergoing surfactant coating. Both composites are evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine dispersion uniformity. Mechanical properties are resolved by tensile tests performed by an instron. Preliminary results suggest that surfactant addition enhances dispersion, while mechanical properties of the composites for up to 5 vol. % of added nickel remain close to that of the polymer matrix without filler.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007
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