Conducting And Magnetic Mango Fibers

This paper presents a new magnetic material, obtained from the modification of mango (Mangifera indica L.) fibers with polyaniline (PAni). The obtained materials were characterized through wideangle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Additionally, the electrical resistivity and magnetic behavior of the obtained samples were evaluated with the help of volume resistivity measurements assisted by probability density function analysis and magnetic force tests. The materials presented good electrical and magnetic properties. For instance, in the best case, fibers modified with PAni are approximately 120,000 times more conductive than raw mango fibers. In addition, mango fibers modified with PAni were increasingly attracted by the magnetic field, presenting magnetic force and magnetic susceptibility equal to 6.69 +/- 0.05 mN/g (at 872 +/- 4 Gauss) and (2.48 +/- 0.04) x 10(-4) m(3) kg(-1), respectively. As a consequence, modification of mango fibers with PAni constitutes a very promising way for the preparation of green magnetic devices. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.