Properties of Nanosized Ferrite Powders and Sintered Materials Prepared by the Co-Precipitation Technology, Combined with the Spray-Drying Method

Cobalt and nickel ferrites powders are synthesized by the co-precipitation technology, combined with the spray-drying method. The crystallite size, specific surface area (SSA), magnetic properties of synthesized products are investigated. All the synthesized ferrites are nanocrystalline single phase materials with crystallite size of 5-6 nm, the SSA of 80-85 m2/g and the calculated particle size of 13-15 nm. After spray-drying granules of the size up to 10 μm are obtained. After thermal treatment at 550 and 950 °C SSA decreases to 40-50 m2/g and 20-22 m2/g, respectively. The saturation magnetization at these temperatures increase from 17 to 40 emu/g for NiFe2O4 and from 51 to 77 emu/g for CoFe2O4. By the pressure-less sintering method the dense material forms at 1100 °C for CoFe2O4 and 1200-1300 °C for NiFe2O4.