Dielectric and mechanical properties of rubber ferrite composites

Abstract

Rubber ferrite composites (RFCs) containing powdered nickel zinc ferrite (Ni_{1 - x}Zn_xFe₂O₄ ) in a natural rubber matrix have been prepared and their mechanical and dielectric properties have been evaluated. Variations in the relative permittivity of both the ferrite ceramics and RFCs have been studied over a range of frequencies, ceramic compositions, ceramic filler loadings, and temperatures, and the results have been correlated. Appropriate mixture equations have been formulated to calculate the dielectric permittivity of the composite from the dielectric permittivity of its constituents. Values calculated using these equations have been compared with experimental data on relative permittivity, and the two have been found to be in good agreement. In the present investigation it was also observed that for x = 0 4 and for the maximum ferrite loading, the composite sample exhibits maximum magnetisation and optimum flexibility.