Synthesis and Characterization of Barium-Hexaferrite-Based Nanocomposite on X-Band Microwave

Abstract

In this research, synthesis and characterization of barium-hexaferrite-based nanocomposites were conducted with silicone rubber as a microwave absorber in x-band frequency. Barium-hexaferrite nanoparticle powder is prepared with high energy milling for 75 h. Nanocomposites were prepared by weight percentage of barium-hexaferrite to silicon rubber with a variation of 20 % to 50 %. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used for structural analysis and phase in still-powder conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used for surface morphology analysis. The vibration of sample magnetometer (VSM) and vector network analyzer are respectively used for static magnetic analysis and microwave absorption properties. The characterization results show that the sample has a single phase with a hexagonal crystal structure. The surface morphology is almost homogeneous with an almost spherical grain shape and a nanoparticle size of 20 nm to 30 nm. Magnetic saturation (Ms) reached 52.0 emu·g−1, magnetic remanent (Mr) 33.0 emu·g−1 and coercivity (Hc) 0.32 T. Ability to absorb microwaves expressed by reflection loss (RL) reached the maximum for the sample with 20 % composition, i.e. about –15 dB at a frequency of 10.8 GHz. While for the composition of 30 % and 50 % the ability to absorb microwaves in a row is –7 dB (10.8 GHz) and –5.2 dB (10.6 GHz).