Abstract
Magnetic properties of the synthesized solid solution x FeTiO3·(1−x) Fe2O3 of ilmenite (FeTiO3) and hematite (Fe2O3) were investigated in detail for the whole range of 0≤x≤1. On the experimental side of the study, the most suitable method for preparing the specimen with the largest intensity of magnetization was found. Changes of the Curie point, the estimated intensity of magnetization at 0°K, the Curie constant and the asymptotic paramagnetic Curie point with the composition were presented. It was found that the magnetic properties of the solid solution, x FeTiO3·(1−x)Fe2O3, could be divided into three parts, (i) x=1, (ii) 1>x\gtrsim0.5 and (iii) 0.5>x≥0: Pure ilmenite (FeTiO3) is antiferromagnetic below 55°K and the specimens for 1>x\gtrsim0.5 are very strongly ferromagnetic and for 0.5>x≥0 they are again antiferromagnetics on which feeble parasitic ferromagnetism is superimposed.
On the theoretical side of the study, these magnetic properties were discussed by using the approximation of molecular field. It was shown that we could explain an outline of the magnetic properties of the solid solution if we assume that the tetravalent Ti ions always occupy one of the two sublattices in the specimens for 1≥x\gtrsim0.5, while such an ordering of Ti ions and Fe ions is disturbed for 0.5>x≥0.
