Surface properties and particle interactions of metal magnetic powders

Abstract Two types of metal magnetic powders, referred to as powder A and powder B, were analyzed in terms of their surface properties and interparticle interaction characteristics. Surface chemical compositions were determined by using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The major distinction in the surface compositions was that particles of powder A had excess aluminum, whereas those of powder B had excess silicon and carbon. Wettability of powder A as measured by the contact angle method and capillary penetration method was better than powder B. Dielectric properties, magnetic hysteresis and remanence curves were measured to identify the values of electric and magnetic interparticle interaction parameters. Electric particle interactions as given by the polarizability was greater for powder A than for powder B. Average values of parameters indicating magnetic particle interactions were nearly equal for both powders. A comparison of electric versus magnetic interaction parameters of individual samples indicated that these two different types of particle interactions correlated with each other.