The effect of the conditions of formation on ferromagnetic properties of iron-containing oxide coatings on titanium

Oxide coatings formed on titanium by plasma-electrolytic oxidation in a Na3PO4 + Na2B4O7 + Na2WO4 + Fe2(C2O4)3 electrolyte-suspension at different current densities and different durations of treatment are shown to have ferromagnetic properties. The coercive force of the specimens reaches maximum values of 124 and 380 Oe at 300 and 10 K, respectively, when the thickness of coatings is about 3–5 mm. Crystallites with a mean size of ∼50 nm are found to be present in pores of the coatings. Based on the experimental data, combined with the results of theoretical modeling carried out previously, crystallites are concluded to be iron particles surrounded with a shell composed of oxides and/or hydroxides. The existence of crystallites and their spatial sizes determine the ferromagnetic properties of the coatings.