Introduction
Iron oxide particles have strong magnetic properties. Effective dispersion of them in PDMS matrix yield composites that can undergo high strain under the magnetic field.
Safety
Due to use of chloroform and nanoparticles, every action that involve revealing these materials to the air must be done under fume hood.
Equipment or Bill of Materials
- Iron oxide Nanoparticles
- (polydimethylsiloxane)
- Chloroform
- Bath and ultrasound sonicator
Operation & Procedure
Depending on the determined nanoparticle concentration, appropriate weights should be measured.
- PDMS part A is measured in a vial. Chloroform is added to it, approximately at least 4-5 times of PDMS starting volume. (As an example, for a 5 gram PDMS, at least 20 ml of chloroform should be used.
- Iron oxide nanoparticle is added to a vial according to the determined concentration and initial PDMS weight. After adding chloroform, the vial is closed and wrapped with parafilm.
- Both PDMS-chloroform and Iron oxide-chloroform vials are bath sonicated for one hour seperately.
- The two vials are then mixed and the sonicated for another hour.
- Finally, the composite is mixture is put on hot plate and heated to evaporate the chloroform. The final remaining mixture of PDMS-iron oxide is then mixed with PDMS part B ans set for curing.