Acrylamide-Based Magnetic Nanosponges: A New Smart Nanocomposite Material

Abstract

Nanocomposite materials consisting of CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles and a polyethylene glycol-acrylamide gel matrix have been synthesized. The structure of such materials was studied by means of small-angle scattering of X-rays and polarized neutrons, showing that the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were successfully and homogeneously embedded in the gel structure. Magnetic, viscoelastic, and water retention properties of the nanocomposite gel confirm that the properties of both nanoparticles and gel are combined in the resulting nanomagnetic gel. Scanning electron microscopy highlights the nanocomposite nature of the material, showing the presence of a gel structure with different pore size distributions (pores with micron and nano-size distributions) that can be used as active sponge-like nanomagnetic container for water-based formulations as oil-in-water microemulsions.

Interaction of fatty acid chain length with NiFe2O4 nanoparticles

“…The spectrum were obtained for the precursor:oleic acid = 1:1, precursor : capric acid = 1:1 and precursor : myristic acid = 1:1. The peaks at around 1382.9 cm -1 and 1786 cm -1 represented the symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibration of the carboxyl group (-COO-) whereas the peaks at around 2428.3 cm -1 were due to the symmetric and asymmetric -CH 2 -stretching of the coating agent [13]; [14]; [15]. The chain length of the myristic acid is higher than capric and oleic acid.…”

Polyacrylamide-based polyampholytes and their applications

“…The nanosponge gels can be used in the cleaning of artworks and in the context of the conservation of cultural heritage (Bonini et al 2008).…”

Cleaning of Easel Paintings

“…Successive research work focused on different classes of responsive gels to further control the handling and removal of the cleaning systems. Bonini et al (2007Bonini et al ( , 2008 synthesized and characterized magnetic nanoparticles that were functionalized and associated with acrylamide-based gels, creating a nanomagnetic sponge (Fig. 4.9).…”

“…4.10), so to completely avoid any direct handling of the gel during the removal step. In fact Bonini et al (2008) this tool is particularly suited to the cleaning of precious objects where the surface is sensitive to mechanical stress. The mechanical properties (due to the network of chemical bonds) and the consistency of these "gummy" gels allow easy handling (e.g.…”

“…An example is that of responsive gels, i.e. a class of materials that respond to an external stimulus such as temperature, pH or magnetic fields for practical purposes (Bonini et al 2007(Bonini et al , 2008Carretti et al 2010a). Moreover, gels with high visco-elasticity that can be easily "peeled" off the surface, and highly retentive chemical gels for the cleaning of water-sensitive surfaces, have been realized and assessed on movable works of art (Baglioni et al 2014).…”