A self-propagating high-temperature synthesis method for Ni-ferrite powder synthesis

Ni-ferrite (NiFe2O4) powder was synthesized by a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) process using Fe, Fe2O3 and various Ni-containing species (Ni-CSs) as reactants. The reactants were thoroughly mixed and pressed into a cylindrical compact. The compact was ignited by electrical heating under oxygen partial pressures varying between 0.02 and 1.5 MPa. The effects of the type of Ni-containing species, the reactant composition, the oxygen pressure on the combustion temperature, and the product conversion were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that oxygen pressure promoted product conversion. Among several Ni-containing species tested, Ni2O3 was found to give the highest conversion. The product conversion increased with increasing iron content and then decreased with further increase in iron content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed that the product synthesized is mostly in the form of agglomerated fine particles with submicron size (0.1–0.5 μm). Hysteresis behavior analysis showed that the product as synthesized possessed better soft magnetic properties when compared with commercial Ni-ferrite prepared by the solid reaction method.