Preparation and Characterization of Spinel Ferrite ZnFe2O4 Fibres

Spinel ZnFe(2)O(4) fibres were prepared by thermal decomposition of organic gel formed from Zn, Fe salts and citric acid. The composition, and structure of the gel precursors and products were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM. The spinning of the gel was important for the formation of the uniform gel fibers and the spinel type ZnFe(2)O(4) fibres. This was in association with the formation of citrate-metal complex structure and linear-type structural molecule [(C(6)H(6)O(7))(4)ZnFe(2)](n) from the complicated reactions between the citric acid and metal ions at pH of 5.2. The gel consisting of the linear molecules exhibited good behavior of spinning. The spinel ZnFe(2)O(4) fibres were 2 similar to 10 mu m in diameters, 10(6) (length/diameter) in aspect ratios, and consisted of 35 nm grains. The fibers had the saturation magnetiation value of 2.62 emu/g and a coercivity value of 4766.45 A.m(-1).