Magnetic materials physical properties

Coercivity of Thin-Film Media. The coercivity ia a magnetic material is an important parameter for appHcations but it is difficult to understand its physical background. It can be varied from nearly zero to more than 2000 kA/m ia a variety of materials. For thin-film recording media, values of more than 250 kA / m have been reported. First of all the coercivity is an extrinsic parameter and is strongly iafluenced by the microstmctural properties of the layer such as crystal size and shape, composition, and texture. These properties are directly related to the preparation conditions. Material choice and chemical inborn ogeneties are responsible for the Af of a material and this is also an influencing parameter of the final In crystalline material, the crystalline anisotropy field plays an important role. It is difficult to discriminate between all these parameters and to understand the coercivity origin ia the different thin-film materials ia detail. 

The crystalline mineral silicates have been well characterized and their diversity of stmcture thoroughly presented (2). The stmctures of siHcate glasses and solutions can be investigated through potentiometric and dye adsorption studies, chemical derivatization and gas chromatography, and laser Raman, infrared (ftir), and Si Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance ( Si ft-nmr) spectroscopy. References 3—6 contain reviews of the general chemical and physical properties of siHcate materials. 

In the ceramics field many of the new advanced ceramic oxides have a specially prepared mixture of cations which determines the crystal structure, through the relative sizes of the cations and oxygen ions, and the physical properties through the choice of cations and tlreh oxidation states. These include, for example, solid electrolytes and electrodes for sensors and fuel cells, fenites and garnets for magnetic systems, zirconates and titanates for piezoelectric materials, as well as ceramic superconductors and a number of other substances... 

Nickel-iron alloys have a number of important applications that are derived from such special physical properties as their unique magnetic characteristics in the regions of 35, 50 and 80% nickel and from their abnormally low thermal expansion in the region of 36-50% nickel. Although not specifically used as corrosion-resistant materials, their high resistance to attack from many common environments is of benefit in their specialised applications. 

Callisto orbits Jupiter at a distance of 1.9 million kilometres its surface probably consists of silicate materials and water ice. There are only a few small craters (diameter less than a kilometre), but large so-called multi-ring basins are also present. In contrast to previous models, new determinations of the moon s magnetic field suggest the presence of an ocean under the moon s surface. It is unclear where the necessary energy comes from neither the sun s radiation nor tidal friction could explain this phenomenon. Ruiz (2001) suggests that the ice layers are much more closely packed and resistant to heat release than has previously been assumed. He considers it possible that the ice viscosities present can minimize heat radiation to outer space. This example shows the complex physical properties of water up to now, twelve different crystallographic structures and two non-crystalline amorphous forms are known Under the extreme conditions present in outer space, frozen water may well exist in modifications with as yet completely unknown properties. 

In recent years, the amount of research time devoted to materials chemistry has risen almost exponentially and sulfur-based radicals, such as the charge-transfer salts based upon TTF (tetrathiafulvalene), have played an important role in these developments. These TTF derivatives will not be discussed here but are dealt with elsewhere in this book. Instead we focus on recent developments in the area of group 15/16 free radicals. Up until the latter end of the last century, these radicals posed fundamental questions regarding the structure and bonding in main group chemistry. Now, in many cases, their thermodynamic and kinetic stability allows them to be used in the construction of molecular magnets and conductors. In this overview we will focus on the synthesis and characterisation of these radicals with a particular emphasis on their physical properties. 

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