PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FINE MAGNETITE PARTICLES FROM IRON(III) CARBOXYLATE DISSOLVED IN ORGANIC-SOLVENT

The preparation of fine, crystalline magnetite from nonaqueous iron(III) carboxylate solution at elevated temperatures was investigated. On treatment with water, the iron carboxylate solution precipitated pure hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) at 200-degrees-C and a mixture of hematite and magnetite (Fe3O4) at 245-degrees-C. In the absence of water, a heat treatment of the organic solution at 245-degrees-C and 0.45 Wa for 60 min resulted in the formation of magnetite alone. The resulting magnetite was found to be crystalline particles with size ca. 0.1 mum and be free from contamination by the organic starting material.