The effect of Cu substitution on the microstructure and magnetic properties of MnFe2O4 ferrite

Abstract

The effect of compositional variation on grain size and porosity of Mn1 − xCu x Fe2O4 ferrite, where x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, prepared by standard ceramic method are reported. From microstructure analysis it follows that porosity increases with the Cu concentration where as coercivity increases up to x = 0.50. Above x = 0.5 the decrease in coercivity is explained on the basis of Neel's mathematical model treating the demagnetizing influence of non-magnetic material in cubic crystals. The coercivity, varies inversely with the grain size upto x = 0.5. The decrease in coercivity above x = 0.5 with grain size can be correlated with the inter-granular domain wall movement because of large porosity.