Variation in Elastic Properties of Holmium Substituted Nickel Copper Zinc Ferrites

Abstract

Nickel copper zinc ferrites with composition of Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.6Fe2-xHoxO4 (x=0.0 to 0.1 in steps of 0.02) synthesized by the sol-gel autocombustion method. Sintering temperature of precursors determined using TGA-DTA. XRD patterns indicate that all samples have single phase cubic spinel structure. The IR spectra show two major absorption bands. The microstructures of the prepared samples were studied by SEM and TEM. Elastic moduli and Debye temperature were determined using IR data and XRD data of spinel ferrite samples. The values of Debye temperature, Young's modulus (E), bulk modulus (K) and modulus of rigidity (G) and stiffness constant increased with holmium substitution.