Synthesis of barium ferrite ultrafine particles by coprecipitation in the presence of polyacrylic acid

The barium ferrite ultrafine particles were synthesized by coprecipitation in an aqueous solution with polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a protective agent. Thermal analysis by TGA/DTA showed that the precursor could yield barium ferrite after calcination above 700 degreesC for 2 h. By analyses of the XRD and electron diffraction pattern, the formation of pure barium ferrite was confirmed and the appropriate molar ratio of Ba/Fe in aqueous solution was determined to be 1/11. The TEM measurements indicated that the average diameter of the precursor was 4.5 nm, and the diameters of the particles calcined at 700 and 800 degreesC were 23-34 and 49-82 nm, respectively. The magnetic properties characterized by a SQUID magnetometer showed that the barium ferrite ultrafine particles calcined at 700-800 degrees C had a saturation magnetization of 36.9-60.8 emu/g, a remanent magnetization of 19.0-31.0 emu/g, a coercivity of 117.3-221.8 Oe, and a squareness ratio of 0.51. The magnetization was also observed to increase with a decrease of temperature at 5-400 K. These magnetic properties all reflected the nature of ultrafine particles and also were influenced by the morphology and microstructure of final products. (C) 2001 Academic Press.