Nanophase iron oxides by ball-mill grinding and their Mossbauer characterization

Ball-mill grinding of ferric oxide, Fe2O3. to obtain nanophase samples has been undertaken for different duration with repeated X-ray diffraction moni toring of nanophase formation. Particle size and strain have been calculate d from XRD patterns, for different periods of ballmilling at 300 rpm. Mossb auer spectra of as-supplied or bulk iron oxides and these finely ballmilled samples have been compared looking for the signature of superparamagnetism possible in the nanophase samples. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BY. All right s reserved.