Polymer–Iron Oxide Based Magnetic Nanocomposites

The thrust to develop magnetic particles, both fundamentally and technologically, arose out of the necessity for application of this in many spheres of the human race. Physical and chemical properties of lower dimension (nanoscale) particles are very much different from their bulk counterpart. Magnetic nanocomposites depicted quite a few unique properties like very low as well as very high coercivity, superparamagnetism, blocking temperature etc., which opened up new vistas in this area. It was quite evident that iron oxide, in different phases and alloys formed the basic macroscopic magnetic material. In the past few decades it was clear that besides developing magnetic particles as a pure material, there arose a tremendous compulsion to probe into diversions for an inter disciplinary area engulfing chemical and biological sciences for the benefit of mankind. One such effort resulted in determining the compatibility of nano-scale magnetic particles (metal oxides, particularly iron oxide) with polymeric materials to form organic/inorganic composites. Amongst the many questions, which generated with time, a few have been typically selected and addressed in this chapter. This chapter primarily concentrates on ways to prepare (both chemical and physical processes), understand structural aspects, magnetic behavior, electrical and optical properties of polymer–iron oxide based magnetic nanocomposites. Some interesting applications are discussed at the end of the chapter.