Microwave flash synthesis of iron and magnetite particles by disproportionation of ferrous alcoholic solutions

This paper reports the microwave-hydrothermal treatment of alcoholic solutions of ferrous chloride (FeCl2) and sodium ethoxide (EtONa) solutions with a microwave autoclave designed by the authors (the RAMO system). Depending on the initial concentrations, hematite (alpha-Fe2O3), spinel phase (Fe3-xO4) or iron-magnetite (Fe-0-Fe3O4) nanocomposites are obtained with a lower grain size compared to conventional composites. Indeed, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals grain sizes close to 20 nm for magnetite and 60 nm for metallic iron. However, the amount of metal is smaller (close to 11%). Furthermore, these particles are inert in the ambient atmosphere. Consequently, the RAMO (French acronym of Reacteur Autoclave MicroOnde) system appears to provide an efficient source of energy in rapidly producing inert powders of iron, magnetite and iron-magnetite composites. (C) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.