Preparation and characterization of spherical yttrium iron garnet via coprecipitation

The purpose of this work is to obtain spherical particles yttrium iron garn et (YIG) by coprecipitation technique. The spherical particles were obtaine d from either nitrate or chloride salt solutions by controlling the precipi tation medium. Different agents of dispersion such as PVP and ammonium iron sulfate were used to optimize the shape and size of YIG. Samples were char acterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results show that the samples phase transition tak es place at 850 degreesC (orthorhombic phase) and at 1200 degreesC (cubic p hase). Spherical shape particles, with diameter of around 0.5 mum, present magnetization values close to the bulk value (26 emu g(-1)). (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.