Inductive heating of electrospun Fe2O3/polyurethane composite mat under high-frequency magnetic field

This study reports on the effect of high-frequency magnetic field on the heating of electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibers decorated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs). The morphological and thermal properties were checked by several characterization techniques. Here, the effect of Fe2O3 NP concentration and intensity of magnetic field on the inductive heating of the composite mat were investigated. Fe2O3 nanoparticles were confirmed to be embedded on/in the nanofibers and their presence has increased the thermal stability of the composite nanofibers compared to the neat PU nanofibers. The composite nanofibers under high-frequency magnetic field showed a temperature increase of 3-17% with respect to the neat PU nanofibers depending on the Fe2O3 NP concentration and magnetic field strength. The present results suggest the potential use of electrospun nanofibers as good substrate for magnetic nanoparticles, and when exposed to external magnetic field, can induce heating that may be useful for localized hyperthermia application. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.