Magnetic properties of hard (CoFe2O4)–soft (Fe3O4) composite ceramics

Composite ceramics of CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 with different weight ratios were synthesized by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) at a sintering temperature of 500 °C. The X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrate that all samples are composed of CoFe2O4 and Fe3O4 phases. The magnetization curves for all the composite ceramic are single-step loops indicating the existence of exchange spring effect. Due to the competition between the exchange interaction and the dipolar interaction, magnetic properties like coercivity (Hc) and remanence (Mr) are sensitive to the weight ratio of the soft phase.