Structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of a SrFe12O19/PLA composite

Abstract

Polymer matrix nanocomposites are extensively explored due to their usefulness and relevant physicochemical properties. Once these properties are present instantaneously, reacting at relative stimuli, multifunctional applications are succeeded. In the current work, we have investigated the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of a system formed from the SrFe12O19 hexaferrite (SrM) and polylactic acid (PLA). The SrM particles were obtained by solid reaction method and embedded in a PLA thermoplastic polymeric matrix to form the SrM/PLA composite. The structural, magnetic, and electrical properties were investigated from the experimental measurements obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and impedance spectroscopy (IS), respectively. The Match-3 Software was used to determine the present phases in each sample. The results suggest the coexistence of both phases independently (SrM and PLA). In addition, the lattice parameters experience minimal variation for the individual phases of the compound. It was noticed that the magnetic properties are modulated as a function of the SrM hexaferrite phase concentrations and the magnetic interactions' nature. Finally, the electrical properties (impedance complex, real and imaginary permittivity) showed wide variability with changes in the phase content. For all samples, the characteristic values of s(300) between 0.9926 ± 0.0002 and 0.9737 ± 0.0003 indicated the electron hopping mechanism.