Thermoanalytical Study of Cu-Mg-Zn Ferrites

Homogeneous solid solution oxalates of Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ metals were prepared by co-precipitation from respective metal acetate solutions with oxalic acid solution. The thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of co-precipitated oxalate complexes with general formula Mg_xCu_(0.50-x)Zn_0.50Fe₂(C₂O₄)₃·nH₂O (x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50) were carried out by manual method in static air atmosphere. The total mass loss % and stepwise mass loss % values are in good agreement with theoretically calculated mass loss % values. The thermal decomposition of oxalate complexes occur at relatively lower temperatures (561 to 698 K). The lowering of decomposition temperatures may be attributed to earlier initiation of Fe²⁺ oxalate in oxalate complexes. At temperatures between 598–698 K the thermal decomposition of Cu-Mg-Zn-Fe solid solution oxalate complexes leads to formation of ferrites of spinel structure. After tampering at 873 and 1273 K, homogeneous ferrites arise, which is revealed from XRD studies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.