Comparative studies on the structure and magnetic properties of Ni–Zn ferrite powders prepared by glycine-nitrate auto-combustion process and solid state reaction method

Ni–Zn ferrite compositions (Ni1−xZnxFe2O4) are well known due to their remarkable soft magnetic properties, which potentially have a broad range of applications in many areas. In this study, Ni–Zn ferrite with the chemical formula of Ni0.64Zn0.36Fe2O4 was prepared by the glycine-nitrate autocombustion process (GNP) and solid state reaction method (SSRM). In order to achieve a desirable particle size, the SSRM powders were milled for 3 h at a milling rate of 200 rpm. The structure and magnetic properties of the ferrite powders, which were synthesized by both methods, were characterized and their properties were compared. The results indicate that a significant amount (∼ 90 wt.%) of nanocrystalline Ni0.64Zn0.36Fe2O4 ferrite with the average crystallite size of 47 nm, particle size of 200 nm, saturation magnetization of 73 emu/g and coercivity of 54 Oe has been formed by means of the glycine-nitrate process. The results also show that not only the saturation magnetization of the GNP ferrite powder is relatively similar to that of the milled SSRM powders, but also it is synthesized at a much shorter duration than that of the solid state reaction method