Synthesis and magnetic properties of zinc ferrite from mechanochemical and thermal treatments of Zn–Fe3O4 mixtures

The preparation of ZnFe2O4 from mechanochemically activated reactive mixtures Zn–Fe3O4 is studied. The physicochemical and structural evolution of the system is analyzed by X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, differential thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The activated mixtures reacted towards the formation of ZnFe2O4 at lower temperatures than the non-activated ones. In addition, thermal treatments as a function of time revealed a non-expected magnetic behavior of some mixtures. In order to interpret this observation, a qualitative diffusional reaction model is proposed.