The Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel and Cobalt Ferrite Nanopowders Obtained by Different Methods

The single-phase NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 ferrites were synthesized by four methods: the high-frequency plasma chemical synthesis (“plasma”), sol-gel self-propagating combustion method (“combust”), and co-precipitation technology, combined with the hydrothermal synthesis (“hydrotherm”) or spray-drying (“spray”). The specific surface area (SSA), crystallite size, and magnetic properties of the synthesized products have been determined. The synthesized ferrites are nanocrystalline single-phase materials with crystallite size of 5-40 nm. The SSA of nanoparticles synthesized in plasma is 28-30 m2/g, the particle size distribution is in the range of 10-100 nm, with some individual particles up to 200 nm. The SSA of the ferrites obtained by the self-combustion and hydrothermal synthesis is 40 ± 3 and 60 ± 5 m2/g, respectively. The SSA of the samples obtained by the spray-drying method is 80-90 m2/g, and the calculated particle size is 13-15 nm. In this process, pellets up to 10 μm are obtained. After synthesis, CoFe2O4 are characterized by the saturation magnetization Ms of 75 emu/g (“plasma”), 53 emu/g (“combust”) and 57 emu/g (“hydrotherm”). The Ms of NiFe2O4 is 44, 29, and 30 emu/g, respectively. The products obtained by the spray-drying method are partially X-ray amorphous and show magnetic properties only after heating above 450°C. These nanopowders were used in sintering studies

Ag+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ doped hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate bioceramics: Influence of doping and sintering technique on mechanical properties

Green hydroxyapatite ceramics were obtained by cold uniaxial and isostatic pressing of hydrothermally synthesized powders, pure hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite doped with Ag+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions. The ceramics were conventionally and microwave sintered and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The effect of doping on the mechanical properties of the obtained hydroxyapatite/tricakium phosphate ceramics was examined by comparing their average grain size, porosity and values of the hardness and fracture toughness. The results showed that doping with Cu(2+ )ions caused the lowest porosity of the ceramics and the highest values of hardness and fracture toughness. The ceramics obtained from hydroxyapatite doped with Ag( )(+)and Zn2+ ions exhibited worse mechanical properties due to the higher porosity even in the case of microwave sintering, which provide denser ceramics than conventional sintering