Using NMR linewidth broadening for magnetic characterization of micrometer-size particles in silicone matrix

•At low fields, mass magnetization values of MgZn ferrite particles in bulk material and dry powder can differ by 50%.•The NMR measurements and simulations can provide a reliable method to determine the magnetization for ferrite particles.•The MgZn ferrite particles as temperature sensors for MRI work better for low-field scanners with lower concentrations. Standard magnetization measurements on samples of small magnetic particles may generate conflicting results. We compare the mass magnetization of MgZn ferrite particles in a compressed bulk material and in dry powder and find that at low fields the values can differ by as much as 50%. We show here that embedding the particles in a silicone matrix and measuring the NMR linewidth in combination with simulations establishes a new method to evaluate the magnetization of the particles at different fields and temperatures. The NMR results agree with the direct magnetization measurements of the powder samples and the magnetization measurements of the particles embedded in silicone. This work is motivated, in part, by studies on using small magnetic particles as MRI temperature indicators, and we compare the effectiveness of these particles for low-field and high-field MRI thermometry.