TEHRAN (INIC)- Researchers at Sharif University of Technology in collaboration with colleagues from Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC) have come up with synthesis of magnetic ceramic nanopowders with controlled microstructures at pilot plant scale.

"The aim of the research was to investigate a method for synthesis of magnetic nanopowders applicable for mass production. Hopefully, we have managed to synthesize magnetic single phased nickel-cobalt ferrite with desired hard magnetic properties," Amin Azizi, head of magnetic nanomaterials group at MERC, said to the news service of INIC.

"We took advantage of both mechanical alloying and atmospheric thermal treating to obtain magnetic ceramic nanopowders with optimized properties. First, oxidizing precursors were milled in a high energy planetary ball mill until the formation of single-phased nickel-cobalt ferrite. Next, the prepared powder underwent some atmospheric thermal treatments letting us study the particles' morphology, temperature influences on their magnetic properties and determine optimal conditions for their production," Azizi added.

Stressing that the research still continues, he said that it can be basis for economically justifiable production of magnetic nanopowders with applications in various industries like electronics and dentistry.

He also pointed to some novel and cost-effective methods for production of metal and ceramic nanopowders which are capable of lowering the temperature and as a result avoid particle growth at high temperatures, saying the details of these researches, conducted by his group, will be disclosed in the near future.

For a more technical report on this scientific research please consult the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, volume 322, pages 56 to 59, 2010.