Effect of magnetic nanoparticles on the properties of magnetic rubber

A new kind of magnetic rubber was prepared through conventional rubber mixing techniques on a two-roll mill, in which the magnetic filler was Fe3O4 nanoparticles and was surface modified. The effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles' content on the mechanical and magnetic properties of nature rubber was further investigated. The obtained results of six different compositions for nature rubber with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 phr of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were compared. It was found that the magnetic rubber has higher magnetic properties and tensile strength, comparing with unfilled nature rubber. The result suggests that when the magnetic filler is nanoparticles and surface modified, the mechanical and magnetic properties of the rubber can be synchronously improved, which is difficult to be observed in previous work. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.