The effect of lattice strain on magnetic properties of BaFe12O19 and NiFe2O4 thick films prepared via tape casting method

This work investigates the effect of lattice strain on the magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite (hard phase) and nickel ferrite (soft phase) thick films fabricated via tape casting using PVDF as a polymer matrix. BaFe12O19 and NiFe2O4 were synthesized through solid-state reactions. Before making them into thick film tapes, the final powders of BaFe12O19, and NiFe2O4 were ball milled for 0, 5, and 10 h to determine the effect of induced lattice strain due to milling on their structural and magnetic properties. Structural analysis using XRD confirmed the phase purity, while FESEM revealed microstructural refinement. Magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer. It was observed that films milled for 5 h exhibited superior magnetic performance due to the optimal balance between strain and grain size uniformity. The study demonstrates how controlled processing can enhance the magnetic properties, making them promising candidates for advanced magnetic and energy-related applications.