Effect of atmosphere control on magnetic properties of CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-Fe3O4 glass ceramics

The influences of atmosphere during processes of melting and heat treatment, heat treatment temperature, Fe₃O₄ content and basicity on the magnetic properties of magnetite-based glass ceramics were investigated. For sample containing 20 % Fe₃O₄ melted in different atmospheres, the highest saturation magnetisation was realized in 20vol% air + 80 vol% Ar, due to the fact that ratio of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in melt obtained in this atmosphere was close to 2. However, it was found that the coercivity of glass ceramics was not affected by the melting atmosphere. A high sintering temperature led to the decrease of saturation magnetisation and the increase of coercivity. As increasing Fe₃O₄ content, the main crystal phase transformed from CaSiO₃ to CaFe_0.6Al_1.3Si_1.08O₆ and finally to magnetite phase, accompanied by the increase of saturation magnetisation and coercivity. In addition, the increase of basicity caused the decrease of saturation magnetisation and the increase of coercivity.