Effect of Firing Temperatures on Phase Formation, Microstructure, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ Ceramics Synthesized by the Solid-State Combustion Technique

In this study, the effect of firing temperatures on phase formation, microstructure dielectric and magnetic properties of Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 (NZFO) ceramics were investigated. The NZFO powder were synthesized by the solid-state combustion technique using glycine as a fuel to reduce the reaction temperature. All samples were calcined in the range of 900 degrees C-1100 degrees C for 2 h and sintered in the range of 1175 degrees C-1275 degrees C for 2 h. A pure ferrite phase was found in the powders calcined above 1000 degrees C and the average particle size of NZFO powders was increased from 0.39 mu m to 0.59 mu m when the calcination temperature was increased. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results confirmed the formation of pure spinel structure with cubic phase in all the ceramic samples. The average grain size (5.54-2.80 mu m) was slightly decreased, and the dielectric constant (239-13) tended to decrease with increasing sintering temperature. As the sintering temperature increased to 1250 degrees C, it was found that the lattice parameters (8.366-8.387 & Aring;), the density (5.29-5.35 g/cm(3)), and saturation magnetization (81.51-93.92 emu/g) tended to increase after that decrease.