Low Temperature Magnetic Transition of BiFeO3 Ceramics Sintered by Electric Field-Assisted Methods: Flash and Spark Plasma Sintering

The Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Densification and Magnetic Performance of NiCuZn-Ferrites (CuO: 0-6 wt.%)

This article reported on the effect of Cu-content and sintering temperature on the magnetic permeability and power losses of monolithic iron-deficient NiCuZn-ferrite components with low Cu-contents aimed to be used for power applications at frequencies up to 1 MHz. In particular NiαZnb1-xCuxFe1.9O4 ferrite compositions are investigated with a constant Ni/Zn atomic ratio a/b = 0.9 and 0 < x < 0.017. As found, the addition of Cu enables the achievement of good magnetic performance at lower sintering temperatures and, therefore, lower production cost. At all Cu-contents, the initial permeability as a function of the sintering temperature passes through a maximum above which structural deterioration due to asymmetric grain growth occurs. The temperature at which this maximum permeability occurs depends on the Cu content and coincides with the achievement of the maximum density of 5.1-5.2 g cm-3 (relative density ~97%). At Cu-contents x = 0.006-0.012 and sintering temperatures 1200-1100 °C power losses (tan(δ)/μ at 1 MHz, 25 °C) οf 50 × 10-6 could be achieved and initial permeabilities (10 kHz, 0.1 mT, 25 °C) of around 400 with very good frequency and temperature stability. At CuO content higher than 4 wt.% (i.e., x > 0.012) and sintering temperatures higher than 1150 °C, pronounced microstructural disturbances due to asymmetric grain growth result in low permeabilities and high losses. It is suggested that at low CuO contents and low sintering temperatures, the densification enhancement may not proceed through Cu-rich phase segregation but through the creation of oxygen vacancies.

Structural, Vibrational, and Magnetic Characterization of Orthoferrite LaFeO3 Ceramic Prepared by Reaction Flash Sintering

LaFeO₃ perovskite ceramics have been prepared via reaction flash technique using Fe₂O₃ and La₂O₃ as precursors. The obtained pellets have been investigated using several techniques. The formation of LaFeO₃ has been clearly confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs have shown the microporous character of the obtained pellets due to the low temperature and dwell time used in the synthesis process (10 min at 1173 K). The orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase transition has been observed at approximately 1273 K in differential thermal analysis measurements, which also allows us to determine the Néel temperature at 742 K. The fitted Mössbauer spectra exposed the presence of a single sextet ascribed to the Fe⁺³ ions in the tetrahedral site. Finally, magnetic measurements at room temperature indicate the antiferromagnetic character of the sample.