Improvement of the Magnetization of Barium Hexaferrites Induced by Substitution of Nd3+ Ions for Fe3+ Ions

Barium hexagonal ferrites (BaNd (x) Fe12-x O (19)) have been synthesized by initial high-energy milling of the precursors and calcining subsequently. The as-prepared samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD and SEM examinations reveal that a high-crystallized hexagonal BaNd (x) Fe12-x O (19) with lamellar morphology is obtained when the precursor is calcined at 1200(ay)C in air for 3 h. The hexagonal crystalline structure of BaFe12 O (19) is not changed after doping Nd3+ ions in BaFe12 O (19). However, lattice parameters a and b values increase with an increase in Nd content at first, then decrease. Nd substitution may improve the magnetic properties of BaNd (x) Fe12-x O (19). BaNd0.1Fe11.9 O (19), obtained at 1050(ay)C, has the highest specific saturation magnetization value (80.81 emu/g) and magnetic moment (16.21 mu (B)); BaNd0.2Fe11.8 O (19), obtained at 950(ay)C, has the highest coercivity value, 4075.19 Oe.