Fabrication of magnetic ceramic materials based on nanostructured hematite powder by spark plasma sintering

High-temperature consolidation of nanostructured hematite (α-Fe2O3) powder has been performed using the method of spark plasma sintering (SPS). Magnetic ceramic materials based on individual (α-Fe2O3) and composite (α-Fe2O3–Fe3O4) formulations of high construction strength (fracture strength 249 MPa) have been fabricated. The peculiarities of changes in composite phase composition and microstructure in the SPS temperature range from 700 up to 1100 °С are presented. The materials element composition was studied using the method of energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and the fact of carbon diffusion in the spark plasma current has been corroborated. The ceramic composites magnetic properties have been investigated and the regularities of changes in the values of their magnetization (Ms) and coercive force (Hc) in dependence on the SPS temperature have been described.