Preparation of ultrafine high density gamma ferric oxide using aerosol OT microemulsions and its characterization

Ultrafine gamma ferric oxide has been prepared by controlled heating of ferrous oxalate at a temperature range of 225° to 300°C in moist air. Ferrous oxalate was prepared both in aqueous as well as in Aerosol OT microemulsion systems. It has been observed that the product is always a mixture of alpha and gamma ferric oxides which were characterized by TGA, DTA and XRD studies. Microemulsion mediated ferrous oxalate was found to yield more gamma ferric oxide than that from ferrous oxalate prepared in aqueous solution. However, the yield of gamma ferric oxide prepared through microemulsion mediated system depends on the size of the microemulsion droplets in which precursors have been participated as well as calcination temperature.