Effect of Heat Treatment on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline SrFe12O19 Hexaferrite synthesized by Co-Precipitation Method

Nanocrystalline strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) powders have been successfully synthesized using the facile Co-precipitation method. The ferrite precursors were achieved from mixtures of strontium and ferric chloride in an aqueous medium without any surfactant and soft template. The as-received powders were calcined at 800 and 1000 ˚C for 2 hours in air. The final powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET surface area analysis and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The effects of the calcination temperature on the phase composition, particle size and shape as well as the magnetic properties of the products have been investigated. The results indicated that the higher calcination temperature (1000 oC) resulted in higher particle sizes (98.1 nm), maximum saturation magnetization (60.53 emu/g), remanence value (36.23 emu/g) and less surface area (12 m2g-1). The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant, K, calculated from the Stoner–Wohlfarth theory are increased by increasing temperature up to 15.1 (HA2/kg).