Structural and magnetic properties of Mn0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4/PVA composites

In this work, single phase Mn0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 powders were synthesized by solution combustion method and embedded in PVA matrix by mechanical alloying. X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques were employed for characterization of phase, cation distribution, microstructure and magnetic properties. The spongy microstructure of as-combusted Mn0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 powders collapsed and particles disintegrated during ball milling and transformed to bulky microstructure in the presence of PVA. The higher coercivity of milled Mn0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4/PVA composites than that of milled Mn0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 powders was attributed to their smaller crystallite size. However, the saturation magnetization decreased from 69 ± 3 to 58 ± 3 emu/g in milling, due to the residual lattice strain as well as the decrease of crystallite size.