Synthesis and properties of Mn-Zn ferrite ferrofluids

A Mn-Zn ferrite ferrofluid is produced by chemical synthesis. Two different types of ferrofluids, according to the type of carrier liquid, are synthesized: an aqueous cationic ferrofluid and a surf acted hydrocarbon-based one. Ferrite particles are characterized by using several techniques: X-ray diffraction, transmission electronic microscopy, IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, magnetization measurements and chemical analysis. Particles size depends on the synthesis parameters and can be partly controlled by choosing the type of the coprecipitating base. Increasing of the Zn concentration leads to smaller size of synthesized particles, as well as effects the content of associated water. Magnetization of the ferrofluid significantly decreases when the degree of Zn substitution exceeds 0.5. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.