Magnetic properties of new (NP) hydrothermal particles

A new type of uniaxial particles for magnetic recording whose precursors are produced via an original hydrothermal process was recently introduced in the market. The characterizing feature of these materials is their extremely uniform size and ellipsoidal shape. Most of their properties can be ascribed to the lack of external (pores, dendrites, sharp edges) as well as internal (because of ellipsoidal shape) - self-demagnetizing sources, which suggests the name of "Non-Polar (NP)" particles. As a result of this morphology, they show unique magnetic properties. The magnetization reversal mechanism is not accounted for by any known mechanism as fanning or curling and the rotational hysteresis gives very sharp W
r
vs. H curves with the lowest values for the integral ever measured for particulate media. The behaviour of coercivity versus packing fraction for Cobalt-surface-modified NP particles is described by a new "constricted magnetization" model. The reasons for these unique characteristics and the practical impact that these materials may have in the field of magnetic recording are discussed.