Preparation and magnetic properties of Zn–Cu–Cr–Sm ferrite via a rheological phase reaction method

Nanocrystalline Zn0.6Cu0.4Cr0.5SmxFe1.5−xO4 (x = 0.000, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100) powders were prepared by a rheological phase reaction method. The obtained powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that ferrite samples had the single-phase spinel at low Sm content. Particle sizes calculated from Scherrer's formula decreased with increasing Sm content for the samples, which are consistent with the results obtained by TEM. The magnetic properties of Zn0.6Cu0.4Cr0.5SmxFe1.5−xO4 ferrites were strongly affected by Sm content. The saturation magnetization decreased, while coercivity increased with increasing of Sm content.