Sintering Processing of Complex Magnetic Ceramic Oxides: A Comparison Between Sintering of Bottom-Up Approach Synthesis and Mechanochemical Process of Top-Down Approach Synthesis

Abstract

Sintering is a common synthesis method for the fabrication of ceramics. The widespread use of sintering for the production of complex ceramic oxide especially ferrites has led to a variety of investigations on the subject. Top-down approach synthesis like mechanochemical process has recently been suggested as a promising synthesis method for replacing bottom-up approach synthesis methods like sintering, questioning its necessity for thermal treatment at high temperature. Understanding of sintering mechanism is crucial in order to optimize and enhance the advantages of sintering, which cannot be replaced by other techniques. In general, ferrites with particular set of behaviors require a particular set of microstructural properties influenced by the sintering steps. The main objective of this chapter is to understand how the increase of sintering temperature affects the microstructural evolution, in order to develop a fundamental science understanding for the mechanism of sintering. In the second part of this chapter, presentation of experimental results on sintering of mechanically activated Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles and its effect on microstructural, magnetic, and optical properties was reported. Lastly, a comparative study between sintering (bottom-up approach) and mechanochemical (top-down approach) process is presented