Effect of sintering temperature on the structural and magnetic properties of MgFe2O4 ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a powerful technique to produce fine grain dense ferrite at low temperature. This work was undertaken to study the effect of sintering temperature on the densification, microstructures and magnetic properties of magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4). MgFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via sol–gel self-combustion method. The powders were pressed into pellets which were sintered by spark plasma sintering at 700–900 °C for 5 min under 40 MPa. A densification of 95% of the theoretical density of Mg ferrite was achieved in the spark plasma sintered (SPSed) ceramics. The density, grain size and saturation magnetization of SPSed ceramics were found to increase with an increase in sintering temperature. Infrared (IR) spectra exhibit two important vibration bands of tetrahedral and octahedral metal-oxygen sites. The investigations of microstructures and magnetic properties reveal that the unique sintering mechanism in the SPS process is responsible for the enhancement of magnetic properties of SPSed compacts.