Elementary Mechanisms of Magnetization in Mixed Oxides of Iron and Cobalt

Abstract

The magnetic properties of mixed ferrites of iron and cobalt of the general class, [$x{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3,(1-x)\mathrm{}\mathrm{CoO}$], where $x$ is the molar fraction, varying from 0.5 to 0.6, are studied. Depending on the conditions of preparation, a small amount of the trivalent iron may also transform into the bivalent form. These materials not only possess remarkable magnetic properties but are particularly amenable to a theoretical as well as experimental study of the fundamental mechanisms involved in orientation in a magnetic field, coercive force, remanence, initial susceptibility, law of approach to saturation, and the energies of magnetization. An attempt has been made to correlate all these factors for these materials.