Study of nano-fe₃o₄ addition on magnetic and mechanical properties of hmdi-based polyurethane

Polyurethane has a wide range of chemical structures available led to the design of materials that easily can meet requirements to shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) due to its ability to retain its shape after deformation through giving a certain disturbance like magnetic field. Based on the previous study, polyurethanes synthesized by reacting 4,4’-methylenebis (cyclohexyl isocyanate) to poly(ethylene glycol) Mw: 6000 as polyurethane chain with 1,1,1-trimethylol propane as chain extender, is a potential candidate for shape memory polyurethane (SMPU). Furthermore this study was performed by adding Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as a filler to provide magnetic behavior. In this study, The magnetic and mechanical properties of the SMPU after adding Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were evaluated by observing compatibility between the filler and matrix, morphology, ability in retaining shape, and mechanical properties through measuring FTIR, FESEM, Vibrating Magnetometer and UTM, respectively. This study reported a good compatibility between Fe₃O₄ and the polyurethane, and lack agglomeration of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles indicated FTIR and FESEM-EDAX, the fastest ability on retaining its shape obtained from materials with lowest Fe₃O₄ (3 wt%). Meanwhile the best mechanical and magnetic was resulted from adding 11 wt% of Fe₃O₄.