PRODUCTION OF GARNET FINE POWDER

PURPOSE:To obtain the subject powder having excellent corrosion resistance and light-transmittance and high magneto-optical effect by producing a solution containing ions of elements constituting a rare-earth iron garnet at ratios corresponding to a specific composition and heating small droplets of the solution. CONSTITUTION:A solution containing ions of elements constituting the rare-earth iron garnet of formula and selected at ratios corresponding to the composition is formed to small liquid droplets, which are heated to obtain the objective rare-earth iron garnet fine particles expressed by the formula and having an average particle diameter of 30-3,000Angstrom . In the formula, R and Y are one or more kinds of lanthanide rare-earth elements; M is Al, Ga, Cr, Mn, Sc, In, Ru, Rh, Co, Fe(PI), Cu, Ni, Zn, Li, Si, Ge, Zr, Ti, Hf, Sn, Pb, Mo, V or Nb; a+b+c+d is 7.0-8.0; a+b is 2.0-3.5; c+d is 4.0-6.0; a is 0.5-3.5; b is 0-2.5; c is 3.0-6.0; d is 0-2.0; e is atomic valence of oxygen satisfying the atomic valences of the other elements.