Highly magnetic polymers

Incorporation of carbon-coated cobalt nanoparticles into polymers leads to highly magnetic plastics

The in-situ graphene coating of metal nanoparticles is a highly technical innovation of the FML laboratory. Graphene coatings inhibit the rapid oxidation of such reactive nanoparticles and enable their use in new applications. For example air-stable graphene coated cobalt nanoparticles could be incorporated into polymers like PMMA which resulted in highly magnetic properties comparable to bulk cobalt. These highly magnetic composites are still polymer melt processable by low-cost fabrication techniques such as extrusion or injection-molding. Since the graphene coatings provide an oxidation stabilization the polymer composites can be heated up to 280°C without the rapid oxidation of the metallic cobalt phase.

Features:

• Polymer processing techniques applicable
• High metal loading of 90wt% possible
• Metallic appearance
• Electrical conductivity of around 5000 S/m
• Saturation magnetization of around 150 emu/g
• Low coercivity of 100 Oersted
• High thermal stability of 280°C
• Applications: Low-cost electric engines, microcomponents
  
  
  
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Link to the scientific publication