A study of magneto-crystalline alignment in sintered barium hexaferrite fabricated by powder injection molding

Barium hexaferrite permanent magnets were produced by powder injection molding. Starting barium hexaferrite powder was prepared from a Fe₂O₃ and BaCO₃ powder mixture by calcination followed by milling. The feedstock for powder injection molding was prepared by mixing barium hexaferrite powder with a low viscosity binder. Magnetic alignment was achieved by applying a high intensity magnetic field to the melted feedstock during the injection process. Green samples (with and without magnetic alignment) were subjected to solvent debinding and subsequent thermal debinding followed by sintering. Sintering conditions were optimized in order to achieve a maximum energy product value. Magneto-crystalline aligning in barium hexaferrite was studied on both green and sintered samples using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and magnetic measurements (hysteresisgraphs). All measurements were made both in a parallel and perpendicular direction to the aligning magnetic field. The obtained results confirmed magneto-crystalline alignment.