Sintering Effect on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 Ferrite

Ni0.60Zn0.40Fe2O4 ferrite was prepared via microwave assisted combustion method and sintered at three different temperatures (1100, 1200 & 1300 degrees C). The lattice constant and bulk density increases whereas the porosity decreases (from 12% to 8% at 1100 to 1300 degrees C) with increasing sintering temperature. High saturation magnetization value (72.9 emu/g) is observed for the sample sintered at 1200 degrees C. Room temperature Mossbauer spectroscopy provided information on the magnetic phase and amount of Fe at A and B site in the lattice. Isomer shift (delta) values show that iron is in high spin Fe+3 states. Quadrupole splitting (Delta) values show the cubic symmetry at A-sites, possibility of local distortion at octahedral site and increase in hyperfine field with sintering temperature.