Preparation and characterization of flexible polyurethane foam nanocomposites reinforced by magnetic core-shell Fe3O4@APTS nanoparticles

Novel magnetic polyurethane flexible foam nanocomposites were synthesized by incorporation of aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) via one-shot method. The functionalized MNPs (Fe₃O₄@APTS) were synthesized by co-precipitation of the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ with NH₄OH and further functionalization with APTS onto the surface of MNPs by sol–gel method. The magnetic core-shell NPs were used up to 3.0 % in the foam formulation and the magnetic nanocomposites prepared successfully. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an increasing in thermal stability of polyurethane nanocomposite foam at initial, 5 and 10 %, and maximum thermal decomposition temperatures by incorporation of Fe₃O₄@APTS. In addition SEM images revealed the uniformity of the foam structures and decreasing in pore sizes. Furthermore, VSM result showed super paramagnetic behavior for Fe₃O₄@APTS-PU nanocomposites.