Magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of tape casted free standing NZFO thick films and its composite with piezoelectric phase

We have synthesized powders of Zn substituted Ni(1-x)ZnxFe2O4 ceramics with x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 by solid-oxide route and their phase formation was confirmed by XRD analysis. M-H hysteresis behavior of these samples was investigated as a function of Zn content. Curie temperature of these ferrites decreases as Zn content increases. Among the three compositions, ferrite with x = 0.4 (NZFO) exhibited higher magnetization and hence the same was compacted, sintered at 1200 degrees C and investigated for magnetostriction behavior. The same composition was further utilized for the fabrication of NZFO free standing thick films. Sintering of these free standing thick films was carried out at 1060 degrees C with various dwell time between 1 and 10 h. The effect of sintering dwell time on microstructural, magnetization and magnetostriction properties of free standing thick film has been studied. The NZFO free standing thick films sintered for 10 h show better magnetization whereas those sintered for 6 h attains almost constant magnetization at relatively low magnetic field. The piezomagnetic properties of the thick films sintered at 1060 degrees C for the duration of 6 h were found to be better. Further the layered composite structure of NZFO and Pb0.895Sr0.06La0.03(Zr0.56Ti0.44)O-3 (PSLZT) stacked with each other was fabricated, sintered for 6h and characterized for their magnetization and magnetostriction properties.