Magnetic properties of bioactive glass-ceramics containing nanocrystalline zinc ferrite

Glass-ceramics with finely dispersed zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanocrystallites were obtained by heat treatment of x(ZnO,Fe2O3)(65−x)SiO220(CaO,P2O5)15Na2O (6≤x≤21 mole%) glasses. X-ray diffraction patterns of the glass-ceramic samples revealed the presence of calcium sodium phosphate [NaCaPO4] and zinc ferrite [ZnFe2O4] as major crystalline phases. Zinc ferrite present in nanocrystalline form contributes to the magnetic properties of the glass-ceramic samples. Magnetic hysteresis cycles of the glass-ceramic samples were obtained with applied magnetic field sweeps of ±20 kOe and ±500 Oe, in order to evaluate the potential of these glass-ceramics for hyperthermia treatment of cancer. The evolution of magnetic properties in these samples, viz., from a partially paramagnetic to fully ferrimagnetic nature has been explored using magnetometry and X-ray diffraction studies.

Research highlights
► The glass-ceramics contain bone mineral and magnetic phases.
► Calcium sodium phosphate and zinc ferrite nanocrystallites have been identified in all the sample.
► With an increase in ZnO and Fe2O3 content, magnetic property of samples evolved from partially paramagnetic to fully ferrimagnetic nature.
► Large magnetic hysteresis loops have been obtained for samples with high ZnO+Fe2O3 content.