Preparation and Magnetic Properties of Ba-Ferrite Particles Using the Supercritical Water Crystallization Method

Barium ferrite particles were synthesized from Ba(NO$_3$)$_2$, Fe(NO$_3$)$_3$ and KOH mixed solutions using hydrothermal crystallization in supercritical water. The experimental apparatus for production of barium ferrite is a flow-type apparatus. Fine barium ferrite particles were produced because supercritical water causes the metal hydroxides to be rapidly dehydrated before significant growth takes place. The effects of Fe/Ba ratio and reaction time on the formation, particle size, and magnetic properties of barium ferrite were studied. When Fe/Ba ratio were varied from 0.5 to 12, single-phase barium ferrite powder was only produced in the range of 0.5〈Fe/Ba〈2. Also, with elevating reaction time, the BaO.6Fe$_2$O$_3$ particle size grew smaller. Especially, uniform barium hexaferrite particles of size 100-200nm were obtained at 80sec. In this study, therefore, single-phase barium ferrite particles are highly stable and can be produced continuously in a reaction time of less then 2min.