MICROSTRUCTURAL DEPENDENCE OF MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Sb5+ SUBSTITUTED LITHIUM FERRITES

Abstract

This paper reports the influence of antimony substitution on the magnetic properties of Lithium ferrite sintered at 1200°C. The samples with compositional formula [ Li 0.5+x Sb x Fe 2.5-2x] O 4 (where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) were prepared by standard ceramic route method. The Curie temperature (Tc) was found to be highest at 720°C for x = 0 compound and decreased with increasing x (i.e., Sb 5+ substitution). Saturation magnetization, coericivity, remanent magnetization were studied as a function of Sb content and grain size. The results of initial permeability showed anomalous variations as x varied from 0.0 to 1.0. The maximum initial permeability was observed for x = 0.3 compound. The morphological studies were performed by SEM and the mean diameter of the grain size of the samples was determined and showed correlation with magnetic properties.