Fractal characterization of the compaction and sintering of ferrites

A novel parameter, the fractal exponent DE, is derived using the concept of fractal scaling. The fractal exponent DE relates the development of a feature within a material to the development of the size of the material. As an application, structural changes during the compaction and sintering of ceramic materials have been characterized with the fractal exponent DE. Samples taken during the processing of (Mn,Zn)-ferrite, a soft magnetic ceramic material, were analysed with porosimetry. Results show that the fractal exponent DE provides additional insight into the processing.