Magnetic properties of nanostructured MnZn ferrite

Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles (10–30 nm) have been prepared via mechanochemical processing, using a mixture of two single-phase ferrites, MnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4. SQUID measurements (field-cooled magnetization curves and hysteresis loops) were performed to follow the mechanically induced evolution of the MnFe2O4/ZnFe2O4 mixture submitted to the high-energy milling process. The resulting single MnZn nanoferrite phase was characterized by SQUID (M–H curve), Faraday balance (M–T curve) and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic characteristics of the mechanosynthesized material were compared with those of bulk Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. It was found that the saturation magnetization of nanostructured Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (87.2 emu/g) is lower than that of the bulk Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, but, the Néel temperature of the sample (583 K) is higher than that of the bulk Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4.