Performance of a Wideband Cadmium Ferrite Microstrip Patch Antenna in the X-Band Region

Magnesium-substituted cadmium ferrites with the chemical composition MgxCd1−x Fe2O4 (x = 0, 0.4 and 0.8) were prepared by an oxalate co-precipitation method under microwave sintering technique. The structural properties of ferrites were studied by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscope techniques. The scattering parameters such as reflection coefficient (S11) and transmission coefficient (S21) at microwave frequencies of palletized ferrites were measured by using a vector network analyzer. The software module 85071E followed by scattering parameters was used to determine the electromagnetic properties of the ferrites. The values determined for electromagnetic parameters such as the real part of permittivity (ε′), permeability (μ′), dielectric loss tangent (tanδe) and magnetic loss tangent (tanδm) of synthesized ferrites were used to design rectangular microstrip patch antennas. The performance of magnesium-substituted Cd ferrites as substrate for microstrip patch antennas was investigated. The antenna parameters such as return loss, bandwidth, voltage standing wave ratio, Smith chart and radiation pattern were studied. It is found that the Cd ferrite has applicability as a substrate for wideband antennas in the X-band region.