A novel approach for synthesis of M-type hexaferrites nanopowders via the co-precipitation method

M-type hexaferrites; barium hexaferrite BaFe₁₂O₁₉ and strontium hexaferrite SrFe₁₂O₁₉ powders have been successfully prepared via the co-precipitation method using 5 M sodium carbonate solution as alkali. Effects of the molar ratio and the annealing temperature on the crystal structure, crystallite size, microstructure and the magnetic properties of the produced powders were systematically studied. The results indicated that a single phase of barium hexaferrite was obtained at Fe³⁺/Ba²⁺ molar ratio 12 annealed at 800–1,200 °C for 2 h whereas the orthorhombic barium iron oxide BaFe₂O₄ phase was formed as a impurity phase with barium M-type ferrite at Fe³⁺/Ba²⁺ molar ratio 8. On the other hand, a single phase of strontium hexaferrite was produced with the Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio to 12 at the different annealing temperatures from 800 to 1,200 °C for 2 h whereas the orthorhombic strontium iron oxide Sr₄Fe₆O₁₃ phase was formed as a secondary phase with SrFe₁₂O₁₉ phase at Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio of 9.23. The crystallite sizes of the produced nanopowders were increased with increasing the annealing temperature and the molar ratios. The microstructure of the produced single phase M-type ferrites powders displayed as a hexagonal-platelet like structure. A saturation magnetization (53.8 emu/g) was achieved for the pure barium hexaferrite phase formed at low temperature 800 °C for 2 h. On the other hand, a higher saturation magnetization value (M _s = 85.4 emu/g) was obtained for the strontium hexaferrite powders from the precipitated precursors synthesized at Fe³⁺/Sr²⁺ molar ratio 12 and thermally treated at 1,000 °C for 2 h.