FERRITES
What is ferrite ?
Ferrite is also known as ferrate
Ferrites are explained as any of a group of nonmetallic, ceramic-like, usually ferromagnetic compounds of ferric oxide with other oxides, especially a compound characterized by extremely high electrical resistivity.
Ferrites are composed of iron oxide and one or more other metals in chemical combination
A ferrite is usually described by the formula M(FexOy), where M represents any metal(Mn,Co,Ni,Cu,Mg,Z,Cd or Fe++) that forms divalent bonds, such as nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4).
Magnetic susceptibility is large, and the B-H characteristic shows the hysterisis effect common to the metallic ferromagnetics.
Ferrite may refer to……
Ferrite (iron) - iron or iron alloys with a body-centered cubic crystal structure
Ferrite (magnet) - ferromagnetic ceramic materials used in magnetic applications
Ferrite bead - components placed on the end of data cables to reduce interference
Calcium aluminoferrite - a mineral found in cements
Ferrite core - a structure on which the windings of electric transformers and other wound components are formed
Properties of Ferrites
Hard
Brittle
Iron-containing
Polycrystalline
High electrical resistivity
Low electrical losses
Significant saturation magnetization
Very good chemical stability
Generally gray or black
Classification of Ferrites…..
Soft ferrites
Soft ferrite does not retain significant magnetization.
They have a low coercivity (manganese-zinc ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite).
Used in transformer or electromagnetic cores.
Hard Ferrites
In hard ferrite magnetization is considered permanent.
Have a high coercivity.
They are cheap, and are widely used in household products such as refrigerator magnets (strontium ferrite, barium ferrite).
Characteristics…..
Applications……
Ferrites have importance in engineering and technology because they possess spontaneous magnetic moment below the Curie temperature just as iron, cobalt, nickel.
Due to vey low eddy current losses, ferrites are used as a core of coils in microwave frequency(high frequency) devices and computer memory core elements.
Due to relatively low permeability and flux density compared to iron, ferrites are not suitable for the use in high field and high power applications, such as motors, generators and power transformers, but they can be used in low field and low power applications.
Ferrites are used as ferromagnetic insulators in electrical circuits.
Ferrites like ZnO find low frequency applications in timers. They are also used as switches in refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.
Ferrites are used as magnetic head transducer in recording.
Some of the recent applications of ferrites are listed below
Power transformer and chokes: HF Power supplies and lighting balasts
Inductors and tuned transformers: Frequency selective circuits
Pulse and wideband transformers: Matching devices
Magnetic deflection structures: TV sets and monitors
Recording heads: Storage devices
Rotating transformers: VCR’s
Shield beads and chokes: Interference suppresion
Transducers: Vending machines and ultrasonic cleaners
Catalysis: high surface area, controlled crystal surfaces
Optical properties: sun screen, hyperthermic cancer treatment,
fluorescent tags Light scattering: smoke/fog screens