Method for producing magnetic particles, magnetic particles, and magnetic body

Abstract

This method for producing magnetic particles comprises a nitriding treatment step for applying a nitriding treatment to material particles each having a core-shell structure in which an aluminum oxide layer is formed on the surface of an iron microparticle, and nitriding the iron microparticles while maintaining the core-shell structure.

Claims

1. A magnetic particle producing method, comprising: a nitridation treatment step of subjecting material particles each having a core-shell structure in which an aluminum oxide layer is formed on a surface of an iron fine particle to nitridation treatment to nitride iron fine particles with the core-shell structure being maintained, wherein the method further includes, before the nitridation treatment step, an oxidation treatment step of subjecting the material particles to oxidation treatment and a reduction treatment step of subjecting the material particles having undergone the oxidation treatment to reduction treatment, and wherein in the nitridation treatment step, the nitridation treatment is performed on the material particles having undergone the reduction treatment.

2. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 1, including a drying and reduction treatment step of subjecting the material particles to drying and reduction treatment before the nitridation treatment step, wherein in the nitridation treatment step, the nitridation treatment is performed on the material particles having undergone the drying and reduction treatment.

3. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 2, wherein the drying and reduction treatment is performed by, as supplying hydrogen gas or hydrogen gas-containing inert gas, heating the material particles to a temperature of 200 C. to 500 C. in a hydrogen gas atmosphere or a hydrogen gas-containing inert gas atmosphere and retaining the temperature for 1 to 20 hours.

4. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation treatment is performed by heating the material particles to a temperature of 100 C. to 500 C. in air and retaining the temperature for 1 to 20 hours.

5. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction treatment is performed by, as supplying mixed gas of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas to the material particles, heating the material particles to a temperature of 200 C. to 500 C. and retaining the temperature for 1 to 20 hours.

6. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 1, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed by, as supplying nitrogen element-containing gas to the material particles, heating the material particles to a temperature of 140 C. to 200 C. and retaining the temperature for 3 to 50 hours.

7. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 2, wherein the drying and reduction treatment step comes before the nitridation treatment step, and the oxidation treatment step and the reduction treatment step come in this order after the drying and reduction treatment step.

8. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 1, wherein the material particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

9. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 2, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed by, as supplying nitrogen element-containing gas to the material particles, heating the material particles to a temperature of 140 C. to 200 C. and retaining the temperature for 3 to 50 hours.

10. The magnetic particle producing method according to claim 3, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed by, as supplying nitrogen element-containing gas to the material particles, heating the material particles to a temperature of 140 C. to 200 C. and retaining the temperature for 3 to 50 hours.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a magnetic particle of the invention and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a material particle.

(2) FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) of the magnetic particles and the material particles.

(3) FIGS. 3A to 3C are graphs showing analysis results of crystal structures as obtained after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIG. 3D is a graph showing an analysis result of a crystal structure as obtained before nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry.

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphs showing analysis results of crystal structures as obtained after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry, FIG. 4C is a graph showing an analysis result of a crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry and FIG. 4D is a graph showing an analysis result of a crystal structure as obtained before nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry.

(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs showing the analysis results of the crystal structures as obtained after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIG. 5C is a graph showing the analysis result of the crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry.

(6) FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs showing the analysis results of the crystal structures as obtained after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIG. 6C is a graph showing the analysis result of the crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry.

(7) FIG. 7A is a schematic view showing a TEM image of material particles before nitridation treatment having a particle size of 10 nm, FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the magnetic particles and FIG. 7C is a schematic view showing an enlarged TEM image of the magnetic particles.

(8) FIGS. 8A to 8C are graphs showing analysis results of crystal structures as obtained after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIG. 8D is a graph showing an analysis result of a crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry.

(9) FIG. 9A is a schematic view showing an SEM image of material particles before nitridation treatment having a particle size of 50 nm, FIG. 9B is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the magnetic particles and FIG. 9C is a schematic view showing an enlarged TEM image of the magnetic particles.

(10) FIG. 10A is a flowchart of a first example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention, FIG. 10B is a flowchart of a second example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention and FIG. 10C is a flowchart of a third example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention.

(11) FIG. 11A is a graph showing an analysis result of a crystal structure as obtained before oxidation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIGS. 11B and 11C are graphs showing analysis results of crystal structures as obtained after oxidation treatment by X-ray diffractometry.

(12) FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing analysis results of crystal structures as obtained after oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry.

(13) FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relation between the nitridation treatment time and the iron nitride yield as to magnetic particles produced by a method in which the nitridation treatment is preceded by the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment and the relation therebetween as to magnetic particles produced only by nitridation treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(14) A method for producing magnetic particles, magnetic particles and magnetic body according to the invention are described below in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

(15) FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a magnetic particle of the invention and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a material particle. FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) of the magnetic particles and the material particles.

(16) As shown in FIG. 1A, a magnetic particle 10 of this embodiment is a spherical particle having a core-shell structure in which an aluminum oxide layer (Al.sub.2O.sub.3 layer) 14 (shell) is formed on the surface of an iron nitride fine particle 12 (core).

(17) The magnetic particle 10 is a spherical particle having a particle size of about 50 nm and preferably of 5 to 50 nm. The particle size is obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

(18) In the magnetic particle 10, the iron nitride fine particle 12 exerts magnetic properties. Among iron nitrides, Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 having excellent magnetic properties is most preferable in terms of magnetic properties such as coercive force. Therefore, the fine particle 12 is most preferably constituted by Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase. When the fine particle 12 is constituted by the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase, the magnetic particle 10 is also referred to as Fe.sub.16N.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 composite fine particle.

(19) The fine particle 12 is not limited in component to the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase and may have the composition having another iron nitride included therein.

(20) The aluminum oxide layer 14 serves to electrically insulate the fine particle 12, prevent the fine particle 12 from coming into contact with another magnetic particle or the like and suppress oxidation or the like of the fine particle. This aluminum oxide layer 14 is an insulator.

(21) Since including the iron nitride fine particle 12, the magnetic particle 10 has a high coercive force and excellent magnetic properties. As will be described in detail later, when the fine particle 12 is composed of the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase, the coercive force is to be, for instance, 3070 Oe (about 244.3 kA/m). The magnetic particle 10 is excellent also in dispersibility.

(22) In the magnetic particle 10, the aluminum oxide layer 14 serves to suppress electric current flowing between the magnetic particle 10 and another magnetic particle and consequently, a loss caused by electric current can be suppressed.

(23) A magnetic body produced using such magnetic particles as the magnetic particle 10 has a high coercive force and excellent magnetic properties. One example of the magnetic body is a bonded magnet.

(24) Next, a method for producing the magnetic particle 10 is described.

(25) The magnetic particle 10 can be produced with the use of a material particle 20 shown in FIG. 1B as the material by subjecting the material particle 20 to nitridation treatment (nitridation treatment step). The material particle 20 has a core-shell structure in which an aluminum oxide layer 24 is formed on the surface of an iron (Fe) fine particle 22. The material particle 20 is also referred to as Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particle.

(26) The material particle 20 is a spherical particle having a particle size of about 50 nm and preferably 5 to 50 nm. The particle size is obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

(27) The iron fine particle 22 is nitrided by nitridation treatment to obtain a fine particle composed of iron nitride and most preferably of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2. At this time, the aluminum oxide layer 24 is composed of a stable substance which does not change into another substance through the nitridation treatment. Thus, the iron fine particle 22 that is a core is nitrided and changed into the iron nitride fine particle 12 with the core-shell structure being maintained, thereby obtaining the magnetic particle 10 shown in FIG. 1A.

(28) As described later, the produced magnetic particle 10 is free from aggregation and have high dispersibility. Since the magnetic particle 10 can be produced solely by the nitridation treatment of the material particle 20, transfer of the material particle to another step and other possible processes can be omitted and accordingly, the production efficiency can be improved.

(29) Methods of the nitridation treatment include a method in which: the material particle 20 is put into, for example, a glass container; nitrogen element-containing gas such as NH.sub.3 gas (ammonia gas) is supplied as a nitrogen source into this container; with the NH.sub.3 gas (ammonia gas) having been supplied, the material particle 20 is heated to a temperature of, for example, 140 C. to 200 C.; and this temperature is retained for 3 to 50 hours. In this method, the nitridation treatment is performed more preferably at a temperature of 140 C. to 160 C. with a retention time of 3 to 20 hours.

(30) In the present invention, the nitridation treatment method is not limited to the foregoing method as long as the iron fine particle 22 that is a core can be nitrided and changed into the iron nitride fine particle 12 with the core-shell structure of the material particle 20 as the material being maintained.

(31) The material particle 20 (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) shown in FIG. 1B can be produced by a method of producing superfine particles using thermal plasma disclosed by, for example, JP 4004675 B (a method of producing oxide-coated metallic fine particles). Therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. It should be noted that the method of producing the material particle 20 is not limited to the one using thermal plasma as long as the material particle 20 (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) can be produced.

(32) The material particle 20 used as the material and the magnetic particle 10 were measured for magnetic properties. The results are shown in FIG. 2.

(33) As shown in FIG. 2, magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) denoted by the letter A were obtained with the material particles 20 and magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) denoted by the letter B were obtained with the magnetic particles 10. As can be seen from the magnetic hysteresis curves A and B, the magnetic particles 10 are more excellent in magnetic properties. Having the iron nitride fine particles 12 as cores, the magnetic particles 10 can have a coercive force of, for instance, 3070 Oe (about 244.3 kA/m) which is higher than that of the material particles 20 having cores composed of iron. In addition, the magnetic particles 10 can have a saturation magnetic flux density of 162 emu/g (about 2.010.sup.4 Wb.Math.m/kg).

(34) The nitridation treatment is preferably performed at a nitridation treatment temperature of 140 C. to 200 C. At a nitridation treatment temperature of less than 140 C., the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. At a nitridation treatment temperature in excess of 200 C., the material particles are fused while nitridation is saturated.

(35) The nitridation treatment time is preferably 3 to 50 hours. At a nitridation treatment time of less than 3 hours, the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. At a nitridation treatment time in excess of 50 hours, the material particles are fused while nitridation is saturated.

(36) The present applicants analyzed crystal structures before and after nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry using material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) having a particle size of 10 nm as the material, thereby examining the influence of the temperature in nitridation treatment. The results are shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The particle size was obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

(37) FIG. 3A shows an analysis result of a crystal structure with a nitridation treatment temperature of 200 C., FIG. 3B shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 175 C. and FIG. 3C shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 150 C. The retention time in nitridation treatment was 5 hours in each case.

(38) FIG. 3D shows an analysis result of a crystal structure of the material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles).

(39) Compared to FIG. 3D, FIGS. 3A to 3C associated with the crystal structures after nitridation show that iron nitride was produced. In particular, a nitridation treatment temperature of 150 C. led to a substantially single phase of iron nitride (Fe.sub.16N.sub.2).

(40) The influence of the nitridation treatment temperature was examined with a nitridation treatment time of 10 hours. The results are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

(41) FIG. 4A shows an analysis result of a crystal structure with a nitridation treatment temperature of 150 C. and FIG. 4B shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. FIG. 4C shows an analysis result of a crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry. FIG. 4D shows an analysis result of a crystal structure of the material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles).

(42) Compared to FIG. 4D with reference to FIG. 4C, FIGS. 4A and 4B each show the diffraction peaks of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 and therefore, it is clear that iron was changed into iron nitride by nitridation treatment.

(43) FIGS. 5A to 5C are enlarged diagrams of FIGS. 4A to 4C. FIG. 5A shows the analysis result of the crystal structure with a nitridation treatment temperature of 150 C. and FIG. 5B shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. FIG. 5C shows the analysis result of the crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 as obtained by X-ray diffractometry.

(44) Comparing FIGS. 5A and 5B with reference to FIG. 5C for the respective diffraction peaks on the right side, the diffraction peak C.sub.2 in FIG. 5B is more equivalent in height to the right-side diffraction peak C.sub.3 of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 in FIG. 5C than the diffraction peak C.sub.1 in FIG. 5A and thus, iron was completely changed to iron nitride by nitridation treatment at a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C.

(45) The analysis results in FIGS. 3C and 4A associated with nitridation treatment at a nitridation treatment temperature of 150 C. are shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B for comparison together with the analysis result of the crystal structure of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 (FIG. 6C). FIG. 6A shows the case with a nitridation treatment time of 5 hours and FIG. 6B shows the case with a nitridation treatment time of 10 hours.

(46) Comparing FIGS. 6A and 6B, the diffraction peak pattern with a nitridation treatment time of 10 hours (see FIG. 6B) is closer to the diffraction peak pattern of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2. Thus, compared to the case with a nitridation treatment time of 5 hours (see FIG. 6A), nitridation progressed more with a longer nitridation treatment time, thereby achieving the change into Fe.sub.16N.sub.2.

(47) For the magnetic particles associated with the result shown in FIG. 4A (FIG. 6B), their particle conditions before and after nitridation treatment were observed. The results are shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C.

(48) FIG. 7A shows a TEM image of the material particles, FIG. 7B shows a TEM image of the magnetic particles and FIG. 7C shows an enlarged TEM image of the magnetic particles of FIG. 7B.

(49) As can be seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B, no considerable change was found between the particle structures before and after nitridation treatment and as shown in FIG. 7C, the magnetic particles were obtained with the core-shell structure being maintained even after nitridation treatment. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7B, the magnetic particles did not aggregate but disperse.

(50) The present applicants analyzed crystal structures with different nitridation treatment times by X-ray diffractometry using material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) having a particle size of 50 nm as the material. The results are shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C. The particle size was obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

(51) FIG. 8A shows an analysis result with a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. and a nitridation treatment time of 6 hours, FIG. 8B shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. and a nitridation treatment time of 12 hours and FIG. 8C shows that with a nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. and a nitridation treatment time of 18 hours.

(52) Comparing FIGS. 8A to 8C with reference to FIG. 8D, nitridation further progressed with increasing nitridation treatment time. However, nitridation did not sufficiently progress compared to the above-described case with a particle size of 10 nm. A nitridation treatment temperature of 145 C. is the temperature with which the most favorable nitridation result was obtained with a particle size of 10 nm.

(53) As to the case of using the material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) having a particle size of 50 nm as described above, the particles were observed for the particle conditions before and after nitridation treatment. The results are shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C. FIG. 9A shows a SEM image of the material particles, FIG. 9B shows a TEM image of the magnetic particles and FIG. 9C shows an enlarged TEM image of the magnetic particles of FIG. 9B.

(54) As can be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B, even in the case of a particle size of 50 nm, no considerable change was found between the particle structures before and after nitridation treatment and as shown in FIG. 9C, the magnetic particles were obtained with the core-shell structure being maintained even after nitridation treatment.

(55) Next, alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention are described.

(56) FIG. 10A is a flowchart of a first example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention, FIG. 10B is a flowchart of a second example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention and FIG. 10C is a flowchart of a third example among alternative methods for producing the magnetic particles of the invention.

(57) The present invention is not limited to the magnetic particle producing method in which the material particles are subjected to nitridation treatment to obtain the magnetic particles. As shown in FIG. 10A, the material particles 20 are subjected to oxidation treatment before nitridation treatment to oxidize the iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S10). Subsequently, the material particles 20 are subjected to reduction treatment to reduce the oxidized iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S12). Thereafter, the material particles 20 are subjected to nitridation treatment to nitride the reduced iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S14). The magnetic particles 10 having the iron nitride fine particles 12 can be thus produced.

(58) As described above, the iron fine particles 22 are oxidized in the oxidation treatment step (Step S10), subsequently the oxidized iron fine particles 22 are reduced in the reduction treatment step (Step S12) and then the iron fine particles 22 are nitrided in the nitridation treatment step (Step S14), thereby obtaining fine particles composed of iron nitride and most preferably of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2. At this time, the aluminum oxide layers 24 are composed of a stable substance which does not change into another substance through the oxidation treatment, the reduction treatment and the nitridation treatment. Thus, each iron fine particle 22 that is a core is oxidized, reduced and nitrided to be changed into the iron nitride fine particle 12 with the core-shell structure being maintained, thereby obtaining the magnetic particle 10 shown in FIG. 1A.

(59) Methods of the oxidation treatment include a method in which: the material particles 20 are put into, for example, a glass container; air is supplied into this container; the material particles 20 are heated to a temperature of, for example, 100 C. to 500 C. in the air; and this temperature is retained for 1 to 20 hours. In this method, the oxidation treatment is performed more preferably at a temperature of 200 C. to 400 C. with a retention time of 1 to 10 hours.

(60) At an oxidation treatment temperature of less than 100 C., the degree of oxidation is not sufficient. At an oxidation treatment temperature in excess of 500 C., the material particles are fused. In addition, the oxidation reaction is saturated so that oxidation does not progress any more.

(61) With an oxidation treatment time of less than 1 hour, the degree of oxidation is not sufficient. With an oxidation treatment time in excess of 20 hours, the material particles are fused. In addition, the oxidation reaction is saturated so that oxidation does not progress any more.

(62) Methods of the reduction treatment include a method in which: the material particles 20 having undergone the oxidation treatment are put into, for example, a glass container; hydrogen gas (H.sub.2 gas) or hydrogen gas-containing inert gas is supplied into this container; the material particles 20 are heated to a temperature of, for example, 200 C. to 500 C. in a hydrogen gas atmosphere or a hydrogen gas-containing inert gas atmosphere; and this temperature is retained for 1 to 50 hours. In this method, the reduction treatment is performed more preferably at a temperature of 200 C. to 400 C. with a retention time of 1 to 30 hours.

(63) At a reduction treatment temperature of less than 200 C., the degree of reduction is not sufficient. At a reduction treatment temperature in excess of 500 C., the material particles are fused while the reduction reaction is saturated so that reduction does not progress any more.

(64) With a reduction treatment time of less than 1 hour, the degree of reduction is not sufficient. With a reduction treatment time in excess of 50 hours, the material particles are fused while the reduction reaction is saturated so that reduction does not progress any more.

(65) The method of the nitridation treatment is the same as the above-described nitridation treatment method and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. The nitridation treatment time is also the same as that in the above-described nitridation treatment method. However, the nitridation treatment time can be shortened from that for the above-described magnetic particle producing method using merely the nitridation treatment. The nitridation treatment time is preferably 3 to 50 hours and more preferably 3 to 20 hours.

(66) With a nitridation treatment time of less than 3 hours, the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. With a nitridation treatment time in excess of 50 hours, nitridation is saturated while the material particles are fused.

(67) While the material particles 20 as shown in FIG. 1B are used as the material as described above, the invention is not limited thereto. The material may be a mixture of the material particles 20 and another type of particles. Another type of particles have a size substantially the same as that of the material particles 20 and each have a core-shell structure in which an iron oxide layer is formed on the surface of an iron (Fe) fine particle. The iron oxide is not particularly limited and examples thereof include Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.3O.sub.4.

(68) It was confirmed that when a series of the above-described steps including the oxidation treatment step, the reduction treatment step and the nitridation treatment step are performed with the use of the mixture of the material particles 20 and another type of particles as the material, and even when the content of the other type of particles is about a half in terms of percent by volume, the magnetic particles 10 as shown in FIG. 1A are of course produced and in addition, magnetic particles each having a core-shell structure in which an iron oxide layer (shell) is formed on the surface of an iron nitride fine particle (core) are produced. It was also confirmed that the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers have a size substantially the same as that of the magnetic particles 10 as shown in FIG. 1A. Furthermore, the magnetic particles 10 and the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers do not adhere to each other but disperse.

(69) It was confirmed that when the mixture of the material particles 20 and the other type of particles described above is used as the material and subjected to merely the nitridation treatment, and even when the content of the other type of particles is about a half in terms of percent by volume, the magnetic particles 10 and the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers can be produced with substantially the same particle sizes and in addition, do not adhere to each other but disperse. Thus, even when the mixture of the material particles 20 and the other type of particles is used as the material, the magnetic particles 10 can be obtained and in addition, the magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers described above can be obtained.

(70) In the present invention, none of the oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and nitridation treatment methods is limited to the foregoing methods as long as each iron fine particle 22 that is a core can be oxidized, reduced and nitrided to be changed into the iron nitride fine particle 12 with the core-shell structure of the material particle 20 as the material being maintained.

(71) In addition to the method shown in FIG. 10A, there is another method for producing the magnetic particles of the invention as shown in FIG. 10B. In this method, the material particles 20 are subjected to drying and reduction treatment (Step S20) to dry and reduce the material particles 20 before nitridation treatment. In Step S20, the drying and reduction treatment is performed, for instance, at a temperature of 300 C. with a retention time of 1 hour. Thereafter, the material particles 20 are subjected to nitridation treatment to nitride the iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S22). The magnetic particles 10 having the iron nitride fine particles 12 can be thus produced.

(72) In the case where water is adsorbed to the material particles 20, if heat is simply applied thereto to evaporate the water, iron may react with the water and be oxidized. However, owing to the drying and reduction treatment, heat is applied in a reducing atmosphere using hydrogen and therefore, water can be removed without an oxidation reaction.

(73) As described above, the material particles 20 are dried up in the drying and reduction treatment step (Step S20). Thereafter, the iron fine particles 22 are nitrided in the nitridation treatment step (Step S22) to obtain fine particles composed of iron nitride and most preferably of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2. At this time, the aluminum oxide layer 24 is stable and does not change into another substance through the drying and reduction treatment and the nitridation treatment. Thus, each iron fine particle 22 that is a core is dried and reduced and then nitrided to be changed into the iron nitride fine particle 12 with the core-shell structure being maintained, thereby obtaining the magnetic particle 10 shown in FIG. 1A.

(74) When the material particles 20 are left to stand in the air or adsorbed with water, an oxide film may be formed on the surface of each iron fine particle 22 and interfere a smooth progress of nitridation. However, the drying and reduction treatment performed before the nitridation treatment serves to prevent surface oxidation from occurring at the surface of each iron fine particle 22 and to remove a surface oxide film, thereby achieving smooth nitridation.

(75) Methods of the drying and reduction treatment include a method in which: the material particles 20 are put into, for example, a glass container; hydrogen gas (H.sub.2 gas) or hydrogen gas-containing inert gas is supplied into this container; the material particles 20 are heated to a temperature of, for example, 200 C. to 500 C. in a hydrogen gas atmosphere or a hydrogen gas-containing inert gas atmosphere; and this temperature is retained for 1 to 20 hours. In this method, the drying and reduction treatment is performed more preferably at a temperature of 200 C. to 400 C. with a retention time of 3 hours.

(76) At a drying and reduction treatment temperature of less than 200 C., the degree of reduction is not sufficient. At a drying and reduction treatment temperature in excess of 500 C., the material particles are fused while drying and reduction are saturated so that they do not progress any more.

(77) With a drying and reduction treatment time of less than 1 hour, the degrees of drying and reduction are not sufficient. With a drying and reduction treatment time in excess of 20 hours, the material particles are fused while drying and reduction are saturated so that the drying does not progress any more.

(78) Also in this case, a method of the nitridation treatment in the nitridation treatment step (Step S22) is the same as the above-described nitridation treatment method and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. The nitridation treatment time is also the same as that in the above-described nitridation treatment method. However, the nitridation treatment time can be shortened from that for the above-described magnetic particle producing method using merely the nitridation treatment. The nitridation treatment time is preferably 3 to 50 hours. With a nitridation treatment time of less than 3 hours, the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. With a nitridation treatment time in excess of 50 hours, nitridation is saturated while the material particles are fused.

(79) The magnetic particle producing method shown in FIG. 10A may be combined with the drying and reduction treatment shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10C, the material particles 20 are subjected to the drying and reduction treatment (Step S30), subsequently the oxidation treatment (Step S32) and then the reduction treatment (Step S34) before the nitridation treatment. Thereafter, the material particles 20 are subjected to the nitridation treatment (Step S36) whereby the magnetic particles 10 having the iron nitride fine particles 12 can be produced. In this case, the drying and reduction treatment performed before the nitridation treatment as described above serves to prevent surface oxidation from occurring at the surface of each iron fine particle 22 and to remove a surface oxide film, thereby achieving smooth nitridation in the nitridation treatment later performed. Furthermore, owing to the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment, by oxidation, each iron fine particle 22 that is a core is expanded during oxidation so that a crack or the like occurs at the aluminum oxide layer 24 that is a shell and by succeeding reduction, oxygen present in the iron fine particle 22 (core part) comes out and this allows iron of the iron fine particle 22 (core part) to have reduced density compared to that before the oxidation and reduction treatments, thereby achieving smooth nitridation in the nitridation treatment later performed.

(80) The drying and reduction treatment step (Step S30) above is the same as the drying and reduction treatment step (Step S20) shown in FIG. 10B and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. The oxidation treatment step (Step S32) above is the same as the oxidation treatment step (Step S10) shown in FIG. 10A and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. Likewise, the reduction treatment step (Step S34) above is the same as the reduction treatment step (Step S12) shown in FIG. 10A and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made.

(81) The present applicants used material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) with an average particle size of 62 nm as the material and subjected the material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) to the oxidation treatment, the reduction treatment and the nitridation treatment in this order, thereby producing magnetic particles. The material particles in the production process and the produced magnetic particles were analyzed for their crystal structures by X-ray diffractometry and the results were obtained as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C and FIGS. 12A and 12B.

(82) FIG. 11A is a graph showing the crystal structure analysis result as obtained before the oxidation treatment by X-ray diffractometry and FIGS. 11B and 11C are graphs showing the crystal structure analysis results as obtained after the oxidation treatment by X-ray diffractometry. FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing the crystal structure analysis results as obtained after the nitridation treatment by X-ray diffractometry. FIGS. 12A and 12B show the analysis results on magnetic particles obtained by subjecting the material particles having the crystal structure shown in FIG. 11C to the nitridation treatment.

(83) In the oxidation treatment step, the oxidation treatment was performed in the air at a temperature of 300 C. for 2 or 4 hours.

(84) In the reduction treatment step, the reduction treatment was performed in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature of 300 C. for 15 hours. For this treatment in the presence of hydrogen, use was made of mixed gas of H.sub.2 gas (hydrogen gas) and N.sub.2 gas (nitrogen gas) with an H.sub.2 gas concentration of 4 vol %.

(85) In the nitridation treatment step, the nitridation treatment was performed in an ammonia gas atmosphere at a temperature of 145 C. for 10 or 15 hours.

(86) Comparing diffraction peaks of the material particles shown in FIG. 11A and diffraction peaks shown in FIG. 11B associated with the case with an oxidation time of 2 hours, diffraction peaks of iron oxides are exhibited in FIG. 11B and this means that the iron (Fe) fine particles 22 were oxidized. Likewise, comparing diffraction peaks of the material particles shown in FIG. 11A and diffraction peaks shown in FIG. 11C associated with the case with an oxidation time of 4 hours, diffraction peaks of iron oxides are exhibited in FIG. 11C and this means that the iron (Fe) fine particles 22 were oxidized.

(87) Through the nitridation treatment following the reduction treatment, the diffraction peaks of the iron oxides disappeared and diffraction peaks of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 appeared as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, so that it is clear that the iron oxides were changed to iron nitride (Fe.sub.16N.sub.2) by the nitridation treatment.

(88) The applicants produced magnetic particles by two of the above-described magnetic particle producing methods with different nitridation treatment times and measured the respective yields of obtained iron nitride. The results are shown in FIG. 13.

(89) FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relation between the nitridation treatment time and the iron nitride yield as to magnetic particles produced by a method in which the nitridation treatment is preceded by the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment and the relation therebetween as to magnetic particles produced only by the nitridation treatment. The iron nitride yield was determined by analyzing the crystal structure by X-ray diffractometry and calculating by a known method the proportion of iron nitride based on the obtained diffraction peaks.

(90) In FIG. 13, the letter D denotes magnetic particles obtained only by the nitridation treatment without the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment. In the case of D, use was made of material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) with an average particle size of 33 nm and the nitridation treatment temperature was 145 C. The letter E denotes magnetic particles obtained by the oxidation treatment, the reduction treatment and the nitridation treatment. The case of E corresponds to the cases shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B and use was made of material particles (Fe/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles) with an average particle size of 62 nm as described above.

(91) As shown in FIG. 13, in the case of performing only the nitridation treatment, as the nitridation treatment time, it takes 40 hours to closely approach the convergence of nitridation. On the other hand, in the case of performing the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment prior to the nitridation treatment, it takes 15 hours to closely approach the convergence of nitridation. Thus, by performing the oxidation treatment and the reduction treatment as previous steps of the nitridation treatment step, the nitridation treatment time can be shortened while the iron nitride yield can be increased.

(92) The present invention is basically configured as above. While the method for producing magnetic particles, the magnetic particles and the magnetic body according to the invention have been described above in detail, the invention is by no means limited to the foregoing embodiments and it should be understood that various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(93) 10 magnetic particle 12, 22 fine particle 14, 24 aluminum oxide layer 20 material particle