Thermal analysis of Co-Zn ferrite synthesis from milled powders

The effect of mechanical activation of the mixture of Fe2O3-Co3O4-ZnO reagents on thermal synthesis of cobalt-zinc ferrite (Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4) was studied using X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analyses. The initial oxide powders were mixed using a Retsch Emax high energy ball mill to homogenize the mixture and enhance the reactivity. Mechanical activation was performed in air for 30 and 60 min. Thermal synthesis was performed at 900 °C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed an increase in the intensity of reflections that belong to spinel phases at increased rotational speed of the grinding vials and grinding duration. The patterns of formation of the final ferrite phase depending on the modes of mechanical pre-activation were showed by thermal analysis. It was shown that mechanical pre-activation of a mixture of initial reagents in a high-energy ball mill facilitates the formation of the ferrite phase of the given composition. The Curie temperature was determined for Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite (~ 178 °C) by thermal synthesis. Kindly check and confirm whether the corresponding author is correctly identified. Corresponding author identified correctl