The superparamagnetic iron oxide particles with a diameter of about 10 and
16 nm were obtained by the reaction of Fe2+ and Fe3+. ions in a water pool
of reversed microemulsions. The obtained particles were ascribed to gamma -
Fe2O3 due to the oxidation of Fe3O4. Very fine particles of alpha -Fe and F
e3O4 were also obtained by the thermal decomposition of Fe2C2O4.2H(2)O. The
decomposition products and their particle size depended on the heat treatm
ents.