Radiation induced synthesis of polymer nanocomposites; characterization and application studies.

Abstract

The main conclusions of this work are summarized in this chapter: Iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized successfully by solid state chemical reaction method. The nanoparticles were embedded in the PVA polymer matrix (PVA/α-Fe2O3) for adsorption of heavy metal (lead ion). Then, these nanoparticles mixed with the conductive polymer (PAni) by solid state chemical reaction for synthesis (PAni/ α-Fe2O3) nanocomposites. Ionizing radiation has been utilized in many aspects of modifying polymeric materials. The present study-divided into three groups:- Group (A): Hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3) were synthesized successfully by solid state chemical reaction technique. The obtained results indicated that:  α-Fe2O3 has advantage of low band gap, chemical stability, low cost and nontoxicity.  With increasing the annealing temperature, the crystallite size increase, surface pressure decreases as well as lattice strain decreases.  The sample annealed at 800°C has better and high XRD peak intensity of the nanostructures of XRD spectrum which means the formation of the phase of iron oxide (α-Fe2O3).  The increase in the coactivity with annealing temperature indicated the single domain nature in the samples as well as the material (α-Fe2O3) is in superparamagnetic with grain size around 50 nm.