Synthesis and performance of magnetic composite comprising barium ferrite and biopolymer

The purpose of this study was to prepare the magnetic polymer composite particles with high ferrite content by encapsulating barium ferrite powders with alginate and investigate their physical and biological properties. The magnetic Ca-alginate composite particles were manufactured by adding barium ferrite-alginate slurry dropwise to a CaCl/sub 2/ solution. The final product was then completely cleaned and dried. Average size (0.1/spl sim/1 mm in diameter) of magnetic composite particles was dependent on the ratio of barium ferrite to alginate. The degree of swelling of magnetic Ca-alginate particles was increased as pH increased in aqueous media. The magnetic polymer composite particle was found to maintain high coercivity. The saturation magnetization for the magnetic Ca-alginate composites increased with the increase in the barium ferrite/alginate ratio. The self-heating induced by hysteresis loss under an alternating magnetic field was measured as a function of barium ferrite/alginate ratio in distilled water. The agar overlay test indicated a relatively high cell viability for the L929 cell line upon contact with the magnetic composite particles.