Polyaniline/Fe composite nanofiber added softmagnetic carbonyl iron microsphere suspension and its magnetorheology

Abstract

Fe⁰ nanoparticle-supported polyaniline (PANI) composite nanofibers were prepared as an additive for carbonyl iron (CI)-based magnetorheological (MR) fluids to improve the MR properties and dispersion stability. A simple chemical strategy was adopted to synthesize the PANI/Fe⁰ composite nanofibers. The synthesis method was based on the initial fabrication of interconnected PANI nanofibers by a rapidly mixed polymerization process using ferric chloride (FeCl₃) as the oxidant and the subsequent reductive support of Fe⁰ nanoparticles onto the PANI nanofiber matrix using the polymerization by-products as a metal precursor. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the fabricated nanofibers were composed of PANI and Fe⁰. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy imaging confirmed that the PANI/Fe⁰ composite nanofibers were 80–150 nm in diameter with an interconnected matrix. The MR fluid with the PANI/Fe⁰ composite nanofibers dispersed in mineral oil under an external magnetic field showed enhanced MR properties compared to that without an additive. Turbiscan data also confirmed the improved sedimentation properties of the MR fluid with an additive.