SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF NI₁₋ₓMNₓFE₂O₄ FERRITE AS A POTENTIAL RADAR ABSORBING MATERIAL
Keywords:
Magnetic properties, Mn substitution, Radar Absorbing Materials, Sol-gel, Spinel structureAbstract
The rapid advancement of modern military and surveillance technology has intensified the need for effective Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) capable of minimizing electromagnetic wave reflection and reducing radar cross-section (RCS). Spinel ferrites, particularly NiFe2O4 based materials, have attracted considerable attention due to their tunable magnetic and dielectric properties through cation substitution. This study aims to investigate the effect of Mn²⁺ substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of Ni₁₋ₓMnₓFe₂O₄ ferrites and to evaluate their potential as radar absorbing materials. Ni₁₋ₓMnₓFe₂O₄ ferrites with Mn substitution levels of x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, and 0.9 were synthesized using the sol-gel auto-combustion method with stearic acid as a complexing agent. The synthesized powders were characterized in terms of yield efficiency, magnetic response using semi-quantitative magnetic attraction testing, and structural bonding analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The synthesis yielded efficiencies ranging from 61.43% to 97.46%, with the highest yield observed at x = 0.1 and the lowest at x = 0.3. Magnetic attraction measurements revealed ferromagnetic behavior in all samples, with magnetic attraction percentages between 77.34% and 94.86%, reaching a maximum at x = 0.9. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of characteristic metal-oxygen vibrations at tetrahedral and octahedral sites, indicating successful formation of stable spinel structure. Mn substitution was found to influence cation distribution and magnetic interactions within the lattice. The results demonstrate that Mn-doped NiFe2O4 ferrites exhibit tunable structural and magnetic properties, supporting their potential application as radar absorbing materials for defense-related technologies.
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