Influence of fabrication conditions on the structural characteristics and the magnetic properties of FeAl₂O₄

Abstract

We report a systematic evaluation of the magnetic properties of FeAl2O4 focusing on the relationship between the fabrication conditions and its structural characteristics, in order to improve ceramics processing in applications of this material. For this purpose, the most important factor to control is the inversion parameter, expressed as y in the (Fe1−yAly)(Al1−y/2Fey/2)2O4 composition, which is relatively high for the spinel aluminate of a transition metal. The magnetic properties of these samples all show the spin glass phenomenon at low temperatures, and the cusp temperature depends systematically on this y value. This means that the evaluation of these magnetic properties will be an effective way to predict some characteristics of product FeAl2O4. Additionally, this study found an anomaly in the structural and magnetic characteristics of FeAl2O4 fabricated at a low temperature. This is thought to originate in a tiny and a small amount of impurity. It will be key for discussing the quality of chemically synthesized FeAl2O4, which is typically produced at low temperatures.