Structural and magnetic properties of lithium-substituted ferrite ceramics sintered by continuous electron beam heating

In the present work, the structural and magnetic properties of lithium-zinc ferrite ceramics of Li_0.4Fe_2.4Zn_0.2O₄ composition, obtained using a complex high-energy impact including the mechanical activation of Fe₂O₃-Li₂CO₃-ZnO reagent mixture in planetary mill and radiation-thermal (RT) heating by continuous electron beam, were studied. The samples were divided into two batches: 1) with preliminary thermal synthesis; 2) without preliminary synthesis. All samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis (TG/DTG) techniques. It was established that the high density and low porosity of lithium-zinc ferrite ceramics can be received by using radiation-thermal heating. The samples are characterized by high values of specific magnetization and Curie temperature. Preliminary mechanical activation of the initial reagent mixture allows not only to accelerate the synthesis of ferrite materials, but also to combine the technological stages of synthesis and sintering in single stage of radiation-thermal processing.