Magnetite syntheses from room temperature to 150°C with and without microwaves

Abstract Parameters such as temperature, time and presence or absence of microwaves affected the particle size and magnetic properties of synthetic magnetite. The presence of microwaves during crystallization significantly increased the particle size of magnetite in a short time with improved magnetic properties. Magnetite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and saturation magnetization measurements. The TEM crystal sizes varied from about 40 to 50 nm at room temperature to greater than 50 nm with wider crystal size distribution at higher temperatures. The saturation magnetization values of synthetic magnetites ranged from 57.4 to 89.0 emu/g.