Magnetic interactions and Preisach distributions of nanostructured barium hexaferrite

Barium hexaferrite (phase M) samples with different nanostructures were studied. Sample M1 is composed of nanocrystals of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ produced after milling the elemental oxides (Fe₂O₃ and BaCO₃) and heating in air atmosphere. Two more samples were produced by milling the same oxides and a 20% excess of -Fe. The resulting powder (composed of phase M and a 20% hematite) was heat-treated in different conditions, resulting in samples MF1 (with a partially sintered structure) and MF8 (with almost completely sintered structure).

In order to have an insight into the interactions in each sample, Preisach distributions were obtained using first-order reversion curves (FORCs) measurements. The Preisach distribution corresponding to M1 is a Gaussian-shaped one, with a maximum around 4.1 kOe. The distribution of MF1 has a narrow and high peak at 5.3 kOe, a number of overlapping small peaks down to 2.6 kOe and a distinct and low-intensity peak at 2 kOe. MF8 has a Preisach distribution with a succession of equally spaced distinct peaks from 4.2 to 1.5 kOe.

The found Preisach distributions suggest that the interactions occur among nanocrystals inside conglomerates with different number of particles.