Increased coercivity in recalcined barium ferrite–magnetite nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract In this research, mixtures of barium ferrite and graphite were milled in a high-energy mechanical milling machine. The effect of recalcination on the magnetic properties of the milled samples was studied. Phase analysis, phase transformations at high temperatures, particle size distribution, magnetic properties, and particle morphology were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, hot stage X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, vibrating sample magnetometry, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. A magnetic nanocomposite of BaFe12O19/Fe3O4 formed after 20 and 40 h milling. The average particle size for the 20 and 40 h milled samples reached 106 and 68 nm, respectively. Recalcination of the milled samples resulted in barium ferrite structure recovery. The decreased particle size due to the milling and subsequent recalcination results in increased coercivity values. The coercivity for the milled and calcined sample could increase more than 40% compared to as-received barium ferrite and reaches 3935 Oe for the sample calcined at 1050 °C.