Grain‐Size Effects on Switching Properties of Lithium Ferrite

This study was to determine the effects of grain size on the switching properties of lithium ferrite and to establish the best grain size for a fast switching speed, with a minimum increase of coercive force. Lithium ferrite (Li0.5Fe2.5O4) powder prepared by four preparation techniques; flame spraying, commercial techniques, fluid‐bed reaction, and Li2CO3+Fe2O3 mixture, was densified by hot pressing or conventional sintering. There was a variation in the grain growth and densification characteristics of the powders, but the magnetic properties were similar for a given grain size. The magnetic properties which were evaluated as a function of grain size were squareness, switching coefficient, coercive force, and switching time. These properties were evaluated for a 0.7 to 15.0 μ grain‐size range in order to establish the effects of grain size on switching speed and coercive force. It is shown that samples with a reduced grain size have twice the switching speed of larger grain‐size samples with little or no...