Effect of Mn substitution on the magnetic properties of MgCuZn ferrites

A series of Mn substituted MgCuZn ferrites (Mg0.2Cu0.2Zn0.6O) (Fe2-xMnxO3)(0.97) with x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 were prepared with nanosized precursor powders synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. All the ceramic samples can be sintered at low temperature (930degreesC) (below the melt point of Ag (961degreesC)). The effect of Mn content on microstructures and magnetic properties were investigated. Experiment shows that low temperature sintered MgCuZn ferrites doped with Mn possess higher initial permeability and better grain structure than that of low temperature sintered NiCuZn ferrites prepared by the same method. Therefor, Mn doped MgCuZn ferrites should be ideal materials for high inductance multilayer chip inductor. It is thought that the variation of initial permeability of MgCuZn ferrites with the Mn substitution was attributed to the decrease of magnetostriction constant. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.