ELECTROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MULTIFERROIC BFN-FERRITE COMPOSITES OBTAINED BY SPARK PLASMA SINTERING AND CLASSICAL TECHNOLOGY

In the paper the multiferroic (ferroelectric-ferromagnetic) composites based on ferroelectromagnetic/ferroelectric (BaFe12Nb1/2O3(BFN)) powder and ferrite powder (zinc-nickel ferrite) were obtained by two technological methods. In the composite samples the ratio of the ferroelectromagnetic/ferroeledric powder to the magnetic powder was equal to 90:10. The ceramic powders were synthesized by the classical technological method using powder calcination/solid state synthesis, while densification of the composite powders (sintering) was carried by two different methods: (i) Free Sintering method (FS), and (ii) Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). At the work, a comparison of measurement results for composite samples obtained by two sintering methods was made. The studies included the following analysis: DTA, XRD, SEM, DC electrical conductivity, electric permittivity and magnetic properties. The result of measurements presented in the work revealed that the ceramic composite obtained by two different technological sintering method (classical technology - Free Sintering method and Spark Plasma Sintering technique) can be promising lead-free materials for functional applications, for example in sensors for magnetic and electric field.