Synthesis and Characterization of a Matrix-Free Nanocomposite
- New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States)
Iron nanoparticles have a number of magnetic properties that make them a potentially useful material for transformer applications. These desirable traits include high saturation magnetization, high susceptibility, and very low magnetic hysteresis. Before iron nanoparticles can even be tested for applicability, however, a number of scientific hurdles must be overcome. First an affordable and scalable synthetic approach must be developed, and the results of these large scale reactions must be fashioned into a solid material. To be of use, this solid material must have very high loading of iron nanoparticles and must be relatively easy to form into desired shapes. To achieve these goals, iron nanoparticles were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in the presence of dodecylamine which bound to the surface of the particles. This reaction was scaled up to a multi-gram scale with only minor changes in size and shape control. These particles were then fashioned into “matrix-free nanocomposites”, where the particles were cross-linked to each other. This was achieved by first exchanging the surface coating for a combination of hexylamine and 1,6-diaminohexane. The diamine provided primary amines on the particle surface that were available for further reaction. These were shown to be capable of reacting with a triepoxide cross-linker to form a hard, solid material, analogous to the cure of a common epoxy adhesive. Loading of up to 80% iron by mass (about 43% by volume) was achieved.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1172776
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2014-18114T; 537741
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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