Electric and magnetic properties of Fe–Ni powders–polymeric matrix composites

This work presents a systematic study of the effect of compaction load on the electric resistivity and initial magnetic permeability of Fe–Ni powders–polymeric matrix composites for energy concentrators. Uniaxial compaction loads P ranged from 5 to 35 tons, founding that the composite electric resistivity decreased from 17 × 10− 4 to 1.66 × 10− 4 Ω cm, while the initial magnetic permeability exhibits a maximum value of 1400 at P = 30 tons. Optical microscopy and SEM images revealed that as the compaction load increased, Ni particles welded themselves while Fe particles fractured, together with a decreasing porosity, which in turn, result in an optimum grain size and porosity distribution for P = 25, 30 tons. Electric and magnetic property variations were explained in terms of microstructure features.