Hydrothermal Synthesis of SrFe12O19 and Its Characterization

We have synthesized strontium hexaferrite particles in an alkaline medium using a hydrothermal process at 180 degrees C. Crystalline phase of samples were determined by XRD and spectroscopic, morphological, and magnetic investigation of the sample were FT-IR, SEM, and TG analysis, respectively. XRD analysis revealed few impurity phases in the as-made powder; upon calcinations, the material is converted to desired hexaferrite phase. As synthesized powder exhibits agglomerates with rather smooth facets, in the form of thick platelets. Upon calcination, all these structures were observed to transfer to rod-like structures. The As calcined sample has high specific saturation magnetization (M-s) values of 65 emu/g that is close to its theoretical value of 74.3 emu/g but the hydrothermally synthesized sample does not. This is in agreement with the observations from XRD analysis where few impurity phases observed in the as-made powder cause a weak magnetic response. Upon calcination, the material is converted to a desired hexaferrite phase with better magnetic properties.