Ferrite is one of the possible structures of iron.
An etymological analysis of the term ferrite leads us to pay attention to two components: the Latin word ferrum and the suffix -ita . While ferrum can be translated as "iron" , -ite is used to form the name of the minerals .
According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), ferrite is called iron that has a state of almost absolute purity . Iron, meanwhile, is a metal with symbol Fe and atomic number 26 that is frequently used in the industrial field and is part of substances that are very relevant to life.
Ferrite characteristics
It is important to mention that iron, like oxygen , phosphorus , titanium , sulfur and other chemical elements, has allotropy . This means that it can present with different molecular structures or with different physical characteristics.
Ferrite, in this framework, is one of those structures of iron . It is a solution of carbon in alpha iron ; In other words, ferrite is a microstructure that is composed of alpha iron grains and interstitial carbon atoms.
Because, at room temperature, its solubility is very low, ferrite is usually taken as pure alpha iron. It should be noted that ferrite, which has magnetic properties , shows stability at ambient pressure and temperature.
A ferrite core makes it possible to filter certain currents that pass through an electrical conductor.
Some uses
The aforementioned magnetic properties of ferrite allow it to have multiple uses. It can be combined with various elements in alloys to increase its performance or optimize its qualities.
On the one hand, magnets are produced with ferrite that also usually include barium and cobalt . It can also be used to manufacture cores for coils or transformers; as a pigment in various paints; as toner for laser printers; and in the development of magnetic tapes.
Ferrite powder
Ferrite is usually produced in powder form and then used for the generation of very hard and resistant parts through a sintering process.
Through this procedure, the powder in question is compacted, pressure molded and finally subjected to a heat treatment that does not reach the melting temperature.
Iron oxide
In the field of electronics , the material obtained by conglomerating iron oxide particles is called ferrite. Other metals are added to these particles, resulting in a ferromagnetic product.
In this sense we can talk about different types of ferrites, such as manganese-zinc ferrites and nickel-zinc ferrites . According to their characteristics, these ferrites are classified as hard (with high coercivity) or soft (low coercivity).
ferrite cores
Finally, a device that makes it possible to filter certain currents that cross an electrical conductor is known as a ferrite core or filter . What the core does is prevent electromagnetic interference from occurring, either to or from a device.
The ferrite core is composed of iron , zinc and manganese . Although it blocks the passage of certain frequencies of alternating currents, it allows the passage of direct current .