Alcan International Limited

Alfa Biotech S.p.a.

Paul Groves

Robert Edward Burrell

James L Woodhead

Jean V Sang

Gerard Flynn

Magnetically attractable particles comprise a core of magnetic material encapsulated in a metal oxide coating. They may be made by emulsifying an aqueous solution or dispersion of the magnetic material or precursor, and an aqueous solution or sol of a coating inorganic oxide or precursor, in an inert water-immiscible liquid. The aqueous droplets are gelled, e.g. by ammonia or an amine, recovered, and heated at 250.degree.-2000.degree. C. The resulting particles are generally smooth spheres below 100 microns in diameter and often of sub-micron size.

Magnetically attractable particles and method

The invention concerns sol-gel techniques for making PZT-type ceramics having a perovskite-type structure and ferrite ceramics having a spinel-type structure. Colloidal hydrated oxide sols are mixed with metal salt solutions in the required concentration and the mixed sols dehydrated to form homogeneous gels which are fired at 250.degree. C.-650.degree. C., pressed and sintered at 900.degree.-1300.degree. C. The resulting ceramics include PZT4, PZT5 and lithium ferrites. These have excellent homogeneity, small grain size, high density and improved electrical properties, particularly low dielectric loss, compared with known ceramics of similar composition.

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Charlbury, United Kingdom

Paul Groves