Preparation and properties of nanosize MnZn ferrite from δ-FeOOH

Ferrous ion was transformed into feroxyhyte (δ-FeOOH) by oxidation. Then, manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate in some ratio were added to the feroxyhyte solution. The co-precipitation was boiling reflux conditions sometime under constant stirring. The nanosize MnZn ferrite powder was formed. The mechanism of preparation of the nanosize MnZn ferrite was discussed, and the formation of feroxyhyte which was playing a key role during the process was mentioned. The properties of powder was tested by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results show that the samples of spherical particles about 20 nm, which have characteristics of ferrimagnetism, has larger saturation magnetization, but the remanent magnetization and coercivity are comparatively smaller. The spinel MnZn ferrite nanosize powder was successfully prepared from δ-FeOOH at low temperature, with low-carbon steel and peroxide as main material.