Plating of Cu and Ni metals on Mg-ferrite sintered bodies by an electroless method and an investigation of magnetic behavior

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2018-04, Vol.29 (7), p.5753-5760
• Main Authors: Mirzazadeh, A. R., Kianvash, A., Hajalilou, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Behavior; Bulk density; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coercivity; Copper; Diffraction patterns; Electroless plating; Electron microscopy; Fourier transforms; Magnesium ferrites; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Materials Science; Metals; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Nitrates; Optical and Electronic Materials; Porosity; Scanning electron microscopy; Sintering; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-018-8546-x

MgFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized using sol–gel autocombustion method. The structural and phase formation of the samples were studied through X-ray diffraction patterns. The results indicated that the MgFe 2 O 4 phase was formed along with a second phase of Fe 2 O 3 in the calcinated temperatures up to 900 °C. The desired single phase was produced by elevating calcination temperature to 1000 °C for 2 h. This is further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, showing two absorption bands corresponding to the vibration of tetrahedral and octahedral complexes at ~ 570 and ~ 430 cm −1 , respectively. The microstructure and morphology of the samples were studied using scanning electron microscopy; exhibiting even and rectangular-shaped particles with the average size of 270 nm. In the second stage, the 1000 °C—calcinated powders were pressed under 500 MPa and subjected to sintering from 1350 to 1500 °C with 50 °C increments for 1 h. The bulk density of the sintered bodies increased from 3.9 (at 1350 °C) to 4.25 g/cm 3 (at 1500 °C) and the theoretical porosity reduced from 18.85 to 7%, respectively. Studying their magnetic properties, through a permagraph loop tracer, revealed that the saturation magnetization (M s ) increased from 1200 to 1420 G and the intrinsic coercivity (H cJ ) declined from 50 to 12 Oe, respectively. By plating of Cu and Ni metals on the 1500 °C—sintered body samples revealed that the M s value, however, remained constant, the H cJ reduced from 12 to 8 Oe, as compared to the 1500 °C—sintered body sample, which enable them promising candidates as inductor and transformer materials for high frequency applications.