Encyclopedia of Polymers and Composites

Living Edition
| Editors: Kamal K. Kar (Editor-in-Chief)

Magnetite

Living reference work entry

Later version available View entry history

First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37179-0_34-1
How to cite

Definition

Magnetite is a hard, black, ferrimagnetic, lustrous iron oxide, Fe3O4, which occurs naturally but may also be synthesized, especially when nanoparticles are desired. It is used as specialty filler because of its unique combination of electrical, thermal, and magnetic properties as well as for its exceptionally high density.

Introduction

Magnetite is a remarkable material with unusual properties and diverse applications. Probably the best-known example is magnetite iron ore used for steel production, which consumes millions of tons per year. Another lesser known use is in water purification, where very high purity magnetite is used as a feedstock to produce iron-based chemicals. It is also used as a catalyst in the production of ammonia. There are many other less well-known places where we encounter magnetite. For example, true gun bluing is a thin layer of magnetite which passivates the surface of iron to help prevent corrosion and to lend a decorative effect. Magnetite and...

Keywords

Iron oxide Magnetite High density Microwaveable Specialty filler Radiation shielding 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Roger Rothon for inviting me to write this piece and for his helpful feedback. LKAB Minerals are thanked for supporting me and in particular Luke Hollingbery for the SEM of MagniF 10 and for very valuable comments. Peter Duifhuis is thanked for contributing his deep expertise in magnetite having pioneered its use in plastics.

References

  1. Aldissi M (1993) Filter line cable featuring conductive fiber shielding. US Patent 5,262,592Google Scholar
  2. Chan J (2013) Thermal properties of concrete with different Swedish aggregate materials. Masters Thesis, Report TVBM-5095, University of LundGoogle Scholar
  3. Chang M-T, Chou L-J, Hsieh C-H, Chueh Y-L, Wang ZL, Murakami Y, Shindo D (2007) Magnetic and electrical characterizations of half-metallic Fe3O4 nanowires. Adv Mater 19:2290–2294CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Clauser C, Huenges E (1995) Thermal conductivity of rocks and minerals. In: Ahrens TJ (ed) Rock physics and phase relations, a handbook of physical constants. American Geophysical Union Reference, Washington, DCGoogle Scholar
  5. Cornell RM, Schwertmann U (2003) The iron oxides: structure, properties, reactions, occurrences and uses, 2nd edn. Wiley-VCH Weinheim, GermanyCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Creutz E, Downes K (1949) Magnetite concrete for radiation shielding. J Appl Phys 20:1236–1240CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Dionne GF (2009) Magnetic oxides. Springer, New YorkCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Duifhuis PL, Janssen JMH (2001) Magnetite functional filler: a compounding study in polypropylene and polyamide. Plast Addit Compd 3(11):14–17CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Duifhuis P, Weidenfeller B (2002) Mechanical properties at a glance: polypropylene/magnetite compounds. Kunststoffe 92(8):64–70Google Scholar
  10. Halliwell SM (1992) Weathering of polymers. Rapra Review Reports, Rapra Technology LtdGoogle Scholar
  11. Hancock Y, Finlayson TR (1995) Thermal expansion of magnetite (4.2–300 K). In: Poster session 19th annual A&NZ IP condensed matter & materials meeting, Wagga, 7/02/1995 – 10/02Google Scholar
  12. Harrison RJ, Dunin-Borkowski RE, Putnis A (2002) Direct imaging of nanoscale magnetic interactions in minerals. Proc Natl Acad Sci 99(26):16556–16561CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Hein CL, Lens J-P, Pai-Paranjape V, Peek C, van de Grampel RD (2013) X-Ray and/or metal detectable articles and method of making the same. US Patent 2013131251Google Scholar
  14. Huijbregts WMM, Snel A (1972) The protection effectiveness of magnetite layers in relation to boiler corrosion. In: 5th international congress on metallic corrosion, TokioGoogle Scholar
  15. Ishizaki K, Stir M, Gozzo F, Catala-Civera JM, Vaucher S, Nicula R (2012) Magnetic microwave heating of magnetite-carbon black mixtures. Mater Chem Phys 134(2–3):1007–1012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Jiping C, Rustum R, Dinesh A (2002) Radically different effects on materials by separating microwave electric and magnetic fields. Mater Res Innov 5:170–177CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Kong I, Ahmad SH, Abdullah MH, Hui D, Yusoff AN, Puryanti D (2010a) Magnetic and microwave absorbing properties of magnetite–thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposites. J Magn Magn Mater 322:3401–3409CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Kong I, Hj Ahmad S, Hj Abdullah S, Hui D, Nazlim Yusoff A, Puryanti D (2010b) Magnetic and microwave absorbing properties of magnetite–thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposites. J Magn Magn Mater 322:3401–3409CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Korolev VV, Ramazanova AG, Blinov AV (2002) Adsorption of surfactants on superfine magnetite. Russ Chem Bull 51(11):2044–2049, International EditionCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Mangnus R (2003) Kautschuk, Gummi, Kunstoffe Online. 6: 322–329Google Scholar
  21. McGill SL, Walkiewicz JW, Clark AE (1995) Report of investigations 9518 – Microwave heating of chemicals and minerals. US Department of the Interior, Bureau of MinesGoogle Scholar
  22. Milonjić SK, Kopečni MM, Ilić ZE (1983) The point of zero charge and adsorption properties of natural magnetite. J Radioanal Chem 78(1):15–24CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Müller B, Axelsson MD, Öhlander B (2003) Trace elements in magnetite from Kiruna, northern Sweden, as determined by LA-ICP-MS. GFF 125:1–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Nagata K, Kojima R, Murakami T, Susa M, Fukuyama H (2001) Mechanisms of Pig-iron making from magnetic ore pellets containing coal at low temperature. ISIJ Int 41:1316–1323CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Papell SS (1965) Low viscosity magnetic fluid obtained by the colloidal suspension of magnetic particles. US Patent 3215572AGoogle Scholar
  26. Parkinson GS, Diebold U, Tang J, Malkinski L (2012) Tailoring the interface properties of magnetite for spintronics. In: Malinsk L (ed) Advanced magnetic materials. InTech, CroatiaGoogle Scholar
  27. Peng DL, Asai T, Nozawa N, Hihara T, Sumiyama K (2002) Magnetic properties and magnetoresistance in small iron oxide cluster assemblies. Appl Phys Lett 81(24):4598–4599CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Pullaiah G, Irving E, Buchan KL, Dunlop DJ (1975) Magnetization changes caused by burial and uplift, earth planet. Sci Lett 28:133–143Google Scholar
  29. Robertson EC (1988) Thermal properties of rocks. USGS Open-File Report 88–441Google Scholar
  30. Schwertmann U, Cornell RM (2000) Iron oxides in the laboratory: preparation and characterization, 2nd edn. Wiley-VCH, WeinheimCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Scott G (1997) Antioxidants in science, technology, medicine and nutrition. Woodhead PublishingGoogle Scholar
  32. Sidhu PS, Gilkes RJ, Posner AM (1981) Oxidation and ejection of nickel and zinc from natural and synthetic magnetites. Soil Sci Soc Am J 45(3):641–644CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Sorescu M (1998) Phase transformations induced in magnetite by high energy ball milling. J Mater Sci Lett 17:1059–1061CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Takayama AS, Link G, Sano S, Matsubara A, Sato M, Thumm M (2007) Microwave frequency effect for reduction of magnetite. In: Proceedings of ITC/ISHWGoogle Scholar
  35. Thapa D, Palkar VR, Kurup MB, Malik SK (2004) Properties of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized through a novel chemical route. Mater Lett 58:2692–2694CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Tremaine PR, LeBlanc JC (1980) The solubility of magnetite and the hydrolysis and oxidation of Fe2+ in water to 300°C. J Solut Chem 9(6):415–442CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Vialle G (2009) Inductive activation of magnetite filled shape memory polymers. Masters Thesis, Georgia Institute of TechnologyGoogle Scholar
  38. Weidenfeller B, Höfer M, Schilling F (2002) Thermal and electrical properties of magnetite filled polymers. Compos Part A 33:1041–1053CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Weidenfeller B, Höfer M, Schilling F (2004) Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity of particle filled polypropylene. Comp Part A 35:423–429CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Weidenfeller B, Höfer M, Schilling F (2005) Cooling behaviour of particle filled polypropylene during injection moulding process. Comp Part A 36:345–351CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Xanthos M (2010) Functional fillers for plastics, 2nd edn. Wiley-VCH, WeinheimCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Yixin H, Chunpeng L (1996) Heating rate of minerals and compounds in microwave field. Trans NF soc 6(1):35–40Google Scholar
  43. Ziemniak SE, Jones ME, Combs KES (1995) Magnetite solubility and phase stability in alkaline media at elevated temperatures. J Solut Chem 24(9):837–877CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.LKAB Minerals Inc., Phantom Plastics LLCCincinnatiUSA