Dependence of the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of cobalt ferrite on processing parameters

The dependence of the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of highly magnetostrictive cobalt ferrite on processing parameters has been investigated. The cobalt ferrite samples used in this study were prepared via conventional ceramic processing methods. The processing parameters of interest were sintering temperature, holding time at the sintering temperature and powder compaction pressure. It was observed that the crystal structure, composition and saturation magnetization of the samples studied did not vary with changes in processing parameters but coercive field decreased with increasing sintering temperature. The amplitude of peak to peak magnetostriction was dependent on the holding time and powder compaction pressure. The strain derivative on the other hand was found to depend on powder compaction pressure at any given sintering temperature or holding time. The results show how the magnetoelastic properties of cobalt ferrite can be varied by changing the processing parameters.