Effect of Sm2O3 additive on the microstructure, magnetic and electrical properties of LiTiZn ferrite ceramics

Abstract

LiTiZn ferrites were prepared by a conventional two-steps solid sintering method. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, the primary phase of all specimens was ferrite spinel. It is shown that Sm2O3 additive 1 wt% slightly reduces the lattice parameter of the spinel phase and leads to the appearance of an additional phase SmFeO3. For the first time for LiTiZn ferrite received, that Sm2O3 additive leads to significant increase of the electrical resistivity and the Curie temperature by 25°. Thus, the problem with dielectric loss reduction in the microwave and thermal stability increasing of ferrite ceramics was solved. At the same time, there is a 6 % decrease in saturation magnetization and 11 % in density while coercive force increases by the 60 %. In addition, scanning electron microscope (SEM) data show significant influence of Sm2O3 additive on grain morphology. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) patterns confirm SmFeO3 phase formation. The results of the study can be used for improvement of sintering ferrite products in a factory.