Neutron Diffraction Study of Powders Prepared by Self-propagating High Temperature Synthesis

Non-stoichiometric ceramics of $Ni_{x}ZnO_{1-x}Fe_{2}O_{4}$ were prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis reaction with various processing conditions and their stoichometric numbers were determined by neutron diffraction. The neutron diffraction patterns were measured at room temperature using monochromatic neutrons with a wave length of 0.18339 nm from a Ge(331) mocochromator at a 90 degree take off angle. The Rietveld refinement of each pattern converged to good agreement (x2=1.88-2.24). The neutron diffraction analysis revealed the final stoichiometries of the ferrites were $Ni_{0.38}Zn_{0.62}Fe_{2}O_{4}$ and $Ni_{0.33}Zn_{0.67}Fe_{2}O_{4]$, respectively. This supports that final stoichiometric number of the self-propagating high temperature synthesis product can be controlled by the processing parameters during the combustion reaction.