Spinel cobalt ferrite by complexometric synthesis

Magnetic fine particles of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) have been synthesized using complexometric method in which ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid C10H16N2O8 (EDTA) acts as a complexing agent. The crystallographic structure, microstructure and magnetic properties of the synthesized powder were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The material crystallized in cubic spinel structure with lattice parameter of about 8.38 Å. Depending on the calcining temperature, the particle size of the powders varies in the range of hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers. A desired relative density above 95% of the theoretical value is obtained for the bulk sample after sintering. The calcined powders and sintered sample exhibit saturation magnetizations around 80 Am2/kg which is expected for inverse CoFe2O4. With increasing calcining temperature the coercivity of these samples decreases. This simple synthesis route leads to a reproducible and stoichiometric material.