Variation of Porosity with Copper Content in Copper Cobalt Ferrite

Abstract

Nano-particle size polycrystalline aluminum substituted copper cobalt ferrite samples              Cu_xCo_1-xFe_2-2yAl_2yO₄ (where x= 0.0, 0.2  0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 ;  y =  0.05, 0.15 and 0.25) have been prepared by standard ceramic technique. The effects of aluminium and copper on structural properties of cobalt ferrite are studied. A universal testing machine as well as Archimedes's method was applied for determining the physical properties of the samples. Phase formation is investigated using X-ray diffraction, Infrared absorption technique and Scanning electron microscope technique. Ionic radii R_Aand bond lengths (A-O) on both sites are found decreases with Al³⁺ and copper content. The Lattice constant ‘a’, physical density as well as X-ray density of samples goes on increasing with Al³⁺ and copper content. The ratio c/a is found increasing when addition of copper content and decreases with aluminium content. It means that Al³⁺ and copper acquire the tetragonal prolate type distortions on B site and hence (c/a) ratio increases and automatically crystal lattice turned from tetragonal spinel to cubic spinel. It can be seen from the micrographs that the average grain size decreases with increasing substitution of doping concentration of Al³⁺ in copper cobalt ferrite which decrease in porosity.