Magnetic losses versus sintering treatment in Mn-Zn ferrites

Mn-Zn ferrites prepared by different sintering schedules at 1325 degrees C, 1340 degrees C, and 1360 degrees C, have been characterized from the structural, electrical, and magnetic viewpoint. Magnetic losses and complex permeability have been, in particular, measured and analyzed from quasi-static excitation up to 1 GHz. It is observed that lower sintering temperatures and shorter treatment times lead to more homogeneous grain structure and better soft magnetic response at all frequencies. It is shown, however, that, once the contribution by eddy currents is singled out, the energy losses tend to coincide beyond a few MHz in the differently treated samples. The interpretative approach consists in separating the contributions by the domain wall displacements and the magnetization rotations to complex permeability and losses as a function of frequency. This can be accomplished in a relatively simple way in the low induction region described by the Rayleigh law, where these quantities can be quantitatively related and the linear Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation applies, account being taken of the distribution in amplitude and orientation of the local anisotropy fields.