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 FeAl 2 O 4 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 (Fe 1− y Al y )(Al 1− y /2 Fe y /2 ) 2 O 4 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 FeAl 2 O 4 . Additionally, this study found an anomaly in the structural and magnetic characteristics of FeAl 2 O 4 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 FeAl 2 O 4 , which is typically produced at low temperatures.