Influence of uniform magnetic field on elastic modulus in polyacrylamide ferrogels with embedded nickel nanoparticles

Abstract

Polyacrylamide ferrogels with embedded nickel magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by radical polymerization in water. The elastic modulus of ferrogels was measured under unidirectional compression in a uniform magnetic field with a strength of 0, 165, 220 and 275 Oe. With an increase in the content of nickel particles in ferrogel from 0 to 5.3% by weight, the elastic modulus in zero magnetic field increased by 60%. The application of magnetic field parallel to the direction of compression resulted in the increase of modulus, and if the field was applied perpendicular to the compression, the modulus tends to decrease. Such trends are in good agreement with the features of magnetostriction of a non-compressible uniformly magnetized sphere in a constant magnetic field.