Evaluation of the magnetic and mechanical properties of rubber ferrite composites containing strontium ferrite

Ceramic strontium ferrites belonging to the M-type hexagonal ferrites have been prepared by the ceramic technique. They were then characterized using x-ray diffraction method and incorporated into natural rubber (NR) matrix according to a specific recipe to produce rubber ferrite composites (RFC). RFC are magnetic polymer composites, which have a variety of applications as flexible magnets, pressure/photo sensors, and microwave absorbers. The mechanical properties were studied using a universal testing machine (UTM) and the magnetic properties were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The present study indicates that flexible magnets having appropriate mechanical strength and magnetic properties can be prepared by the incorporation of strontium ferrite in elastomer matrixes. The magnetic measurements indicated that composites having appreciable coercivity (Hc) and saturation magnetization (Ms) could be synthesized by the incorporation of the ceramic ferrites in natural rubber matrix. It has also been found that the coercivity of the ceramic ferrite and the rubber ferrite composites remained almost the same.