Iron-based oxide magnetic powder and method for producing same

[0001] The present invention relates to an iron-based oxide magnetic powder suitable for a high-density magnetic recording medium, a radio wave absorber, etc., and particularly to a magnetic powder in which the average particle diameter of the particles is on the order of nanometers, and a method for producing the same.

[0002] While ε-Fe₂O₃ is an extremely rare phase among iron oxides, particles thereof having a size on the order of nanometers show a great coercive force (Hc) of about 20 kOe (1.59×10⁶ A/m) at room temperature, and therefore, a production method for synthesizing ε-Fe₂O₃ as a single phase has been conventionally studied (PTL 1). Further, when ε-Fe₂O₃ is used in a magnetic recording medium, there is currently no material for a magnetic head having a high level of saturation magnetic flux density corresponding thereto, and therefore, the adjustment of the coercive force is also performed by partially substituting the Fe sites of ε-Fe₂O₃ by a trivalent metal such as Al, Ga, or In, and the relationship between the coercive force and the radio wave absorption properties has also been examined (PTL 2).

[0003] On the other hand, in the field of magnetic recording, development of a magnetic recording medium having a high ratio of reproduced signal level to particulate noise (C/N ratio: carrier to noise ratio) has been conducted, and in order to increase the recording density, there has been a demand for refinement of magnetic particles constituting a magnetic recording layer. However, the refinement of magnetic particles is generally likely to cause deterioration of the environmental stability and thermal stability thereof, and there is a concern about the deterioration of the magnetic properties of the magnetic particles under the use or storage environment. Therefore, by partially substituting the Fe sites of ε-Fe₂O₃ by another metal having excellent heat resistance, various types of partially substituted ε-Fe₂O₃, in which the particle size is reduced and the coercive force is made variable, and which also have excellent environmental stability and thermal stability, represented by a general formula ε-A_xB_yFe_2-x-yO₃ or ε-A_xB_yC_zFe_2-x-y-zO₃ (wherein A is a divalent metal element such as Co, Ni, Mn, or Zn, B is a tetravalent metal element such as Ti, and C is a trivalent metal element such as In, Ga, or Al) have been developed (PTL 3).

[0004] ε-Fe₂O₃ is obtained as a stable phase with a size on the order of nanometers, and therefore, a special method is needed for its production. In the above-mentioned PTLs 1 to 3, a method for producing ε-Fe₂O₃, in which a fine crystal of an iron oxyhydroxide produced by a liquid-phase method is used as a precursor, and the precursor is coated with silicon oxide by a sol-gel method, followed by a heat treatment, is disclosed, and as the liquid-phase method, each of a reverse micelle method using an organic solvent as a reaction medium and a method using only an aqueous solution as a reaction medium is disclosed. However, in ε-Fe₂O₃ or partially substituted ε-Fe₂O₃ obtained by such a method, there are variations in magnetic properties, and therefore, improvement of the magnetic properties thereof by removing the silicon oxide coating after the heat treatment, and performing a classification treatment has been proposed.

[0005] ε-Fe₂O₃ or an ε-type iron-based oxide in which Fe is partially substituted produced by a conventional production method disclosed in the above-mentioned PTLs 1 to 3 has excellent magnetic properties, however, depending on the production conditions, variations are sometimes observed in a coercive force distribution. In response to the problem of variations in coercive force distribution, PTL 4 discloses a method for producing an ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic particle powder containing a substituent metal element, in which an alkali is added to an aqueous solution containing trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal M that partially substitutes the Fe sites so as to neutralize the pH to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower, and thereafter a hydroxycarboxylic acid D is added thereto in an amount of 0.125 or more and 1.0 or less in terms of molar ratio with respect to the amount of the trivalent iron ions:D/Fe or molar ratio with respect to the total amount of the trivalent iron ions and the ions of the substituent metal M:(D/(Fe+M)), and an alkali is further added thereto so as to neutralize the pH to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower, and the produced iron oxyhydroxide containing the substituent metal element is coated with silicon oxide, followed by heating as a method for producing an ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic particle powder containing a substituent metal element. The hydroxycarboxylic acid which is a carboxylic acid having an OH group in the molecule is assumed to bring about an effect of forming a complex with the trivalent iron ion dissolved in the reaction solution, and delaying a hydroxide formation reaction of iron when an alkali is further added in the subsequent step resulting in narrowing the distribution of the average particle diameter of precursor fine particles containing an iron oxyhydroxide to be produced.

• [0006] PTL 1: JP-A-2008-174405
• [0007] PTL 2: WO 2008/029861
• [0008] PTL 3: WO 2008/149785
• [0009] PTL 4: JP-A-2017-024981

[0010] The ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder containing a substituent metal element produced by the production method disclosed in PTL 4 was excellent in that the particle size distribution is narrow and the content of fine particles that do not contribute to magnetic recording properties is low so that the coercive force distribution is narrow, but there was still room for improvement for increasing the recording density of a magnetic recording medium.

[0011] When applying the ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder to a magnetic recording medium, it is desired that not only the average particle diameter is merely controlled, but also the abundance ratio of fine particles or coarse particles whose particle diameter is far from the average value is decreased as much as possible. The presence of fine particles causes an increase in noise in the electromagnetic conversion property SNR of the magnetic recording medium even if the volume ratio to the magnetic powder is small. Further, the coarse particles are particles whose coercive force is too high to perform writing with a magnetic head, and if the abundance ratio thereof is large, it causes a decrease in the magnetic recording density. The ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder containing a substituent metal element produced by the production method disclosed in PTL 4 cannot be said to have a sufficiently reduced content of fine particles and coarse particles described above, and still had a problem with an increase in the recording density of a magnetic recording medium.

[0012] Further, the ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder containing a substituent metal element produced by the production method disclosed in PTL 4 also had a problem that the particle shape is distorted. If the particle shape is distorted, when the particles are magnetically oriented during the production of a magnetic recording medium, the protruding and recessed parts of the particles may interfere with each other and hinder the orientation of the particles, and therefore, it is desired that the particle shape is as close to a perfect sphere as possible.

[0013] In view of the above problems, in the present invention, an iron-based oxide magnetic powder that is composed of particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements, that has a sufficiently reduced content of fine particles and coarse particles, that has a particle shape close to a perfect sphere, and that is suitable for use in a magnetic recording medium, and a method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder are provided.

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,

• • [0015] (1) an iron-based oxide magnetic powder composed of particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements, wherein an average particle diameter measured with a transmission electron microscope is 10 nm or more and 20 nm or less, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less is 5% or less, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more is 25% or less, and the average circularity of particles observed with a transmission electron microscope is 0.955 or more is provided.
  • [0016] (2) It is preferred that the coefficient of variation of the particle diameter measured with a transmission electron microscope of the particles of ε-iron oxide in which the Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements is 20% or more and 30% or less.
  • [0017] (3) In addition, it is preferred that the metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites is one or more types of Ga, Co, and Ti.
  • [0018] (4) It does not matter that the metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites is one or more types of Ga, Co, Ti, Ni, Mn, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd.

[0019] In the present invention, further,

• • [0020] (5) a method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder, which has an average particle diameter measured with a transmission electron microscope of 10 nm or more and 20 nm or less, and is composed of particles of ε-iron oxide or s-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements, including:
  • [0021] a raw material solution preparation step of preparing an aqueous solution containing trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites (hereinafter referred to as a raw material solution), and an alkaline aqueous solution for neutralizing the raw material solution;
  • [0022] a first neutralization step of continuously or intermittently adding each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution to a reaction system and mixing so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower;
  • [0023] a step of adding a hydroxycarboxylic acid to the aqueous solution after the first neutralization step;
  • [0024] a second neutralization step of neutralizing the pH to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower by adding an alkali to the aqueous solution to which the hydroxycarboxylic acid is added, thereby obtaining a slurry containing a precipitate of an iron oxyhydroxide or a substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide;
  • [0025] a step of adding a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group to the slurry containing the iron oxyhydroxide or the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide, thereby coating the iron oxyhydroxide or the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound; and
  • [0026] a step of heating the iron oxyhydroxide or the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide coated with the hydrolysate of the silicon compound, thereby forming ε-iron oxide or ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements, coated with silicon oxide is provided.
  • [0027] (6) It is preferred that the first neutralization step described in the above item (5) is a step of continuously or intermittently adding each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution containing the alkali in an amount of 0.4 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less with respect to the total amount of an acid group contained in the raw material solution to the reaction system which does not contain trivalent iron ions or ions of a metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites and mixing so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower.
  • [0028] (7) The first neutralization step described in the above item (5) may be a step in which when each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution is continuously or intermittently added to the reaction system which previously contains trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites, the amount of the trivalent iron ions and the ions of the metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites previously contained in the reaction system is set to 50 mol % or less of the sum of the amount of the trivalent iron ions and the ions of the metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites and the amount of the trivalent iron ions and the ions of the metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites contained in the raw material solution added to the reaction system, and each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution containing the alkali in an amount of 0.4 equivalents or more and 1.8 equivalents or less with respect to the total amount of an acid group contained in the raw material solution is continuously or intermittently added to the reaction system and mixed so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower.
  • [0029] (8) It is preferred that in the first neutralization step in the above item (5), the addition rate of each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution is adjusted so as to maintain the cumulative amount of the addition amount of the alkaline aqueous solution with respect to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution within a range of 0.4 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less through the step.
  • [0030] (9) It is preferred that in the first neutralization step in the above item (5), the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution are added over 10 minutes or more.
  • [0031] (10) It is preferred that the average diameter measured with a dynamic light scattering particle size distribution analyzer of the slurry containing the iron oxyhydroxide or the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide obtained in the second neutralization step in the above item (5) is 300 nm or less.
  • [0032] (11) It is preferred that iron(III) chloride is used as a supply source of the trivalent iron ions contained in the raw material solution in the above item (5).
  • [0033] (12) It is preferred that the cumulative addition amount of the alkali with respect to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution in the above item (6) is set to 0.6 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less through the first neutralization step.
  • [0034] (13) It is preferred that the cumulative addition amount of the alkali with respect to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution in the above item (7) is set to 0.4 equivalents or more and 1.8 equivalents or less through the first neutralization step.

[0035] By using the production method of the present invention, an iron-based oxide magnetic powder, which has a sufficiently reduced content of fine particles and coarse particles that do not contribute to the improvement of magnetic recording properties, has a particle shape close to a perfect sphere, and is suitable for use in a magnetic recording medium can be obtained.

[Iron-Based Oxide Magnetic Powder]

[0040] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder obtained according to the present invention is composed of particles of ε-iron oxide or particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements (hereinafter sometimes referred to as substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles). The magnetic powder sometimes contains a different phase (for example, one in which the Fe sites of α-Fe₂O₃ are partially substituted by other metal elements) that is unavoidable in the production. It is possible to confirm that the magnetic powder is composed of particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), high-energy electron diffractometry (HEED), or the like.

[0041] Examples of the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that can be produced by the production method of the present invention include the following.

[0042] One represented by a general formula: ε-C_zFe_2-zO₃ (wherein C is one or more types of trivalent metal elements selected from In, Ga, Al, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd)

[0043] One represented by a general formula: ε-A_xB_yFe_2-x-yO₃ (wherein A is one or more types of divalent metal elements selected from Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn, and B is one or more types of tetravalent metal elements selected from Ti and Sn)

[0044] One represented by a general formula: ε-A_xC_zFe_2-x-2O₃ (wherein A is one or more types of divalent metal elements selected from Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn, and C is one or more types of trivalent metal elements selected from In, Ga, Al, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd)

[0045] One represented by a general formula: ε-B_yC_zFe_2-y-zO₃ (wherein B is one or more types of tetravalent metal elements selected from Ti and Sn, and C is one or more types of trivalent metal elements selected from In, Ga, Al, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd)

[0046] One represented by a general formula: ε-A_xB_yC_zFe_2-x-y-zO₃ (wherein A is one or more types of divalent metal elements selected from Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn, B is one or more types of tetravalent metal elements selected from Ti and Sn, and C is one or more types of trivalent metal elements selected from In, Ga, Al, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd)

[0047] The metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites is preferably one or more types of Ga, Co, and Ti from the viewpoint of balance between magnetic properties and thermal stability. In addition, as the substituent element, in addition to Ga, Co, and Ti, one or more types of Ni, Mn, Cr, Nd, Dy, and Gd can be used.

[Particle Diameter]

[0048] It is preferred that the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that constitute the iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention have an average particle diameter measured with a transmission electron microscope (hereinafter sometimes referred to as TEM average particle diameter) of 10 nm or more and 20 nm or less. When the TEM average particle diameter is 20 nm or less, the electromagnetic conversion property when the iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used in a magnetic recording medium can be improved. The TEM average particle diameter is preferably 17 nm or less. When the TEM average particle diameter of the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles decreases, the abundance ratio of fine particles that do not contribute to the improvement of magnetic properties increases to deteriorate the magnetic properties per unit mass of the magnetic powder, and therefore, the TEM average particle diameter is preferably 10 nm or more.

[0049] The iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention is characterized in that with respect to the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type α-iron oxide particles, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter measured with a transmission electron microscope (hereinafter sometimes referred to as TEM particle diameter) of 8 nm or less is 5% or less, and the number ratio of particles with a TEM particle diameter of 20 nm or more is 25% or less.

[0050] The ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles with a TEM particle diameter of 8 nm or less have a low coercive force, and therefore are particles that do not contribute to magnetic recording even if they are present in a magnetic recording medium, but on the contrary are particles that may lead to an increase in noise components in the electromagnetic conversion property of the magnetic recording medium. Therefore, in the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles, it is preferred that the number ratio of particles with a TEM particle diameter of 8 nm or less is as small as possible. In the iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention, the number ratio of particles with a TEM particle diameter of 8 nm or less is 5% or less, and therefore, the amount of noise components in the electromagnetic conversion property when the iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used in a magnetic recording medium can be decreased as compared with the case where a conventional iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used.

[0051] Further, in the iron-based oxide magnetic powder composed of the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles having a TEM average particle diameter of 10 nm or more and 20 nm or less, the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles with a TEM particle diameter of 20 nm or more have a larger coercive force than the particles with an average particle diameter, and therefore, even if such particles are present in a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic record cannot be written by a magnetic head, and therefore, such particles also do not contribute to magnetic recording, and thus are particles that may lead to a decrease in the magnetic recording density of the medium. Therefore, it is preferred that the number ratio of particles with a TEM particle diameter of 20 nm or more is also small. In the iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention, the number ratio of particles with a TEM particle diameter of 20 nm or more is 25% or less, and therefore, the magnetic recording density when the iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used in a magnetic recording medium can be improved as compared with the case where a conventional iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used.

[0052] In the iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention, it is preferred that with respect to the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that constitute the magnetic powder, the coefficient of variation of the particle diameter is 20% or more and 30% or less. Setting the coefficient of variation of the particle diameter to 20% or more and 30% or less works advantageously for the improvement of the electromagnetic conversion property when the iron-based oxide magnetic powder is used in a magnetic recording medium.

[Average Circularity]

[0053] In the present invention, the particle shape of the ε-iron oxide particle or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particle is evaluated based on the average circularity of the particles observed with a transmission electron microscope defined below. The circularity is a concept that evaluates how close the shape of a certain particle is to a perfect sphere, and refers to a numerical value obtained by dividing the product of the projected area of the particle and 4π by the square of the peripheral length of the projected image of the particle and takes a value from 0 to 1. In the case of a perfect circle, the circularity is 1. The method for measuring the circularity will be described later, but for the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles, by increasing the number of particles for which the circularity is measured and calculating the average value, the displacement from the perfect sphere of the ε-iron oxide particle or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particle can be evaluated.

[0054] It is preferred that in the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that constitute the iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention, the average circularity of particles observed with a transmission electron microscope is 0.955 or more. When the average circularity of the particles is 0.955 or more, the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles are easily oriented when a magnetic recording medium is produced by orienting the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles by an external magnetic field, and therefore, as a result, the magnetic recording density of the magnetic recording medium can be improved. The average circularity of particles observed with a transmission electron microscope is more preferably 0.96 or more.

[Method for Producing Iron-Based Oxide Magnetic Powder]

[0055] The method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention is characterized in that precursor particles that serve as a precursor of the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles have a larger particle diameter and better dispersibility than precursor particles obtained by a conventional known production method. The present inventors presumed that in the step of producing precursor particles disclosed in PTL 4, very fine precursor particles with a particle diameter of 1 nm or less are produced, and the precursor particles are coated with a silicon compound in a state of being aggregated to a size on the order of several tens of nanometers, and then subjected to a firing step, and as a result, iron-based oxide particles with an average particle diameter of about 10 to 30 nm are formed. In the production method disclosed in PTL 4, it is difficult to arbitrarily control the degree of aggregation of the precursor particles, and it is considered that as a result, only an iron-based oxide magnetic powder with a wide particle diameter distribution is obtained. In the production method of the present invention, by improving the method for producing precursor particles, precursor particles having a large particle diameter and good dispersibility are obtained, and it is considered that by using such a precursor, the production ratio of particles finer than the average particle diameter or coarse iron-based oxide particles is reduced, and the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles having a particle shape closer to a perfect sphere are obtained.

[Starting Material]

[0056] In the method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention, an acidic aqueous solution (raw material solution) containing trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and metal ions of a metal element that finally substitutes Fe sites of ε-iron oxide particles is used as a starting material of the iron-based oxide magnetic particle powder. Note that in the present description, the “acidic” means that the pH is 7.0 or lower. As the supply source of the iron ions or the metal ions of a substituent element, a water-soluble inorganic acid salt such as a nitrate, a sulfate, or a chloride can be used from the viewpoint of ease of availability and price. In order to finally obtain the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles, it is preferred to pass through β-FeOOH as a precursor, and a halogen ion is required for obtaining β-FeOOH as the crystal structure of the precursor. Therefore, it is preferred to use iron(III) chloride among the illustrated iron salts. When a nitrate or a sulfate is used, a desired precursor can be obtained by adding a halogen ion using hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, or the like.

[0057] In the production method of the present invention, in the raw material solution preparation step, the above-mentioned raw material solution and an aqueous solution of an alkali used for neutralizing the raw material solution in the first neutralization step described later are prepared in advance. The alkali for neutralizing the raw material solution may be any of an alkali metal or alkaline earth hydroxide, ammonia water, and an ammonium salt such as ammonium hydrogen carbonate, but it is preferred to use ammonia water or ammonium hydrogen carbonate with which an impurity is less likely to remain when the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles are finally formed by performing a heat treatment.

[First Neutralization Step]

[0058] The most important technical feature in the method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder of the present invention is that in the first neutralization step, each of the raw material solution obtained in the previous step and the alkaline aqueous solution for neutralizing the raw material solution is added to a reaction system. Note that the reaction system will be described later.

[0059] In a conventional method for producing an iron-based oxide magnetic powder composed of ε-iron oxide particles or substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles using an aqueous solution system, in general, an alkaline aqueous solution is continuously added to the entire amount of a raw material solution to be used in the reaction. In this case, a time lag occurs until the reaction system after adding the alkaline aqueous solution becomes in a uniformly mixed state, and local fluctuation occurs in the compositional ratio of metal ions and OH⁻ ions in the reaction system, and therefore, it is presumed that generation frequency and particle diameter of the above-mentioned precursor generated by the neutralization reaction locally vary, and it is difficult to control the degree of aggregation of precursor particles.

[0060] On the other hand, in the first neutralization step in the production method of the present invention, the concentrations of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution to be added, and the addition rate thereof to the reaction system can be arbitrarily changed, and therefore, it becomes possible to more uniformly control the compositional ratio of metal ions and OH⁻ ions in the reaction system, and precursor particles having a large particle diameter and good dispersibility are obtained, and as a result, an iron-based oxide magnetic powder having a narrow particle diameter distribution is obtained.

[0061] In the first neutralization step in the production method of the present invention, the raw material solution obtained in the previous step and the alkaline aqueous solution are continuously or intermittently added to the reaction system and mixed so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. It is considered that in the aqueous solution obtained by mixing the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution, although the detailed crystal structure is unknown, very fine particles of an oxyhydroxide of the trivalent iron or the substituent metal element, a hydroxide of the trivalent iron or the substituent metal element, or a mixture thereof are generated, and a colloidal solution is formed. In the production method of the present invention, the compositional ratio of metal ions and OH⁻ ions in the reaction system can be strictly controlled, and therefore, the generation state of such colloidal particles can be controlled to a desired state.

[0062] In the present description, the reaction system refers to a reaction solution in which the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution are mixed and a neutralization reaction occurs.

[0063] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the first neutralization step is typically started by simultaneously adding the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution into pure water that is the reaction system which does not contain trivalent iron ions or ions of a metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites. In this case, the reaction system at the initial stage is pure water, and the reaction system after the start of addition of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution becomes a reaction solution in which pure water, the raw material solution, and the alkaline aqueous solution are mixed.

[0064] In the first embodiment of the production method, the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution may be directly and simultaneously added to an empty reaction vessel for holding the reaction solution. In this case, the reaction system is a mixed solution of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution.

[0065] In a second embodiment of the production method of the present invention, the reaction system at the initial stage is an acidic metal salt solution containing trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal element that partially substitutes the Fe sites, and the raw material solution and the alkali are simultaneously added into the metal salt solution. Here, the type of the metal salt contained in the metal salt solution may be the same as the mode of the metal salt contained in the above-mentioned raw material solution. In this case, the amount of the metal ions contained in the metal salt solution that is the reaction system at the initial stage is preferably set to 50 mol % or less with respect to the sum of the amount of the metal ions contained in the metal salt solution and the amount of the metal ions contained in the raw material solution added in the first neutralization step.

[0066] In the first neutralization step of the first embodiment of the production method of the present invention, the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution containing the alkali in an amount of 0.4 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less with respect to the total amount of an acid group contained in the raw material solution are added so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. Note that the acid group refers to Cl⁻ in the case of a chloride, NO₃⁻ in the case of a nitrate, and SO₄²⁻ in the case of a sulfate.

[0067] In this case, the equivalent can be represented as follows.
[moles of alkali used in neutralization×alkali valence]/[sum of(moles of acid group contained in raw material solution×acid group valence)]
Here, the alkali valence is the number of moles of OH⁻ ions stoichiometrically generated from 1 mol of the alkali, and for example, the alkali valences of NaOH, Ca(OH)₂, and NH₃ are 1, 2, and 1, respectively. Further, the acid group valence is the valence of an acid group anion, and for example, the acid group valences of a chloride Cl⁻, a nitrate NO₃⁻, and a sulfate SO₄²⁻ are 1, 1, and 2, respectively. When the amount of the alkali to be added is less than 0.4 equivalents, the amount of colloids to be generated by neutralization of the raw material solution becomes small and the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained, and therefore, it is not preferred. When the amount of the alkali to be added exceeds 0.9 equivalents, the dispersibility of the colloidal solution to be obtained deteriorates and the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained, and therefore, it is not preferred. When the pH after neutralization is lower than 1.0, the amount of colloids to be generated by neutralization of the raw material solution becomes small and the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained, and therefore, it is not preferred. When the pH after neutralization exceeds 3.0, the dispersibility of the colloidal solution to be obtained deteriorates and the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained, and therefore, it is also not preferred.

[0068] Note that the value of pH described in the present description was measured using a glass electrode according to JIS Z 8802. The pH standard solution refers to a value measured with a pH meter calibrated using a suitable buffer solution corresponding to the pH range to be measured. Further, the pH described in the present description is a value obtained by directly reading a measured value indicated by a pH meter compensated with a temperature compensation electrode under the reaction temperature conditions.

[0069] The addition mode of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution may be continuous or intermittent. Further, the addition rate of each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution may be constant or may be changed in the middle of addition. With respect to the timing of addition of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution, the addition starts at the same time, but with respect to the timing of completion of addition, it does not matter if there is a time when the addition of either of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution is completed first and only the other is added.

[0070] In the first neutralization step of the production method of the present invention, the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution are continuously or intermittently added to the reaction system, and therefore, it is preferred to control the addition rate of each using the concept of “cumulative alkali addition equivalent” which is the equivalent number of cumulative addition amount of the alkali with respect to 1 equivalent of the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group. The cumulative alkali addition equivalent can be represented as follows.
[Cumulative amount of moles of alkali used in neutralization×alkali valence]/[sum of(cumulative amount of moles of acid group contained in raw material solution×acid group valence)]

[0071] In the first neutralization step of the first embodiment of the production method of the present invention, it is preferred to adjust the addition rate of each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution so that the cumulative alkali addition equivalent is maintained within a range of 0.4 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less through the first neutralization step. It is more preferred to set the cumulative alkali addition equivalent to 0.6 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less through the first neutralization step.

[0072] Strictly speaking, if the addition start times of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution do not exactly match, the cumulative alkali addition equivalent may not become 0.4 equivalents or more and 0.9 equivalents or less at the very early stage of the start of the reaction in some cases, however, in this case, the addition start times of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution are regarded as completely the same.

[0073] By adjusting the cumulative alkali addition equivalent in the first neutralization step to 0.4 equivalents or more through the first neutralization step, an increase in the concentration of free trivalent iron ions in the reaction system can be suppressed, and therefore, the number of generated precursor nuclear particles to be formed when the alkali is added to the reaction system can be reduced. As a result, the particle diameter of the colloid contained in the colloidal solution obtained in the first neutralization step can be made larger than in the case of PTL 4, and the particle diameter of the precursor particles of the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles obtained in the second neutralization step which is the subsequent step can be made larger. If there is a time when the cumulative alkali addition equivalent is not maintained at 0.4 equivalents or more and becomes less than 0.4 equivalents, the particle diameter of the colloid contained in the colloidal solution obtained in the first neutralization step becomes smaller, and as a result, the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained.

[0074] By adjusting the cumulative alkali addition equivalent in the first neutralization step to 0.9 equivalents or less through the first neutralization step, the pH of the reaction system can be prevented from exceeding 3.0, and the grains of the precursor particles can grow in a dispersed state in the reaction system. As a result, it is possible to obtain precursor particles having good dispersibility (that is, causing less interparticle aggregation) and a narrow particle size distribution in the second neutralization step that is the subsequent step. If there is a time when the cumulative alkali addition equivalent is not maintained at 0.9 equivalents or less and exceeds 0.9 equivalents, the dispersibility of the colloidal solution obtained in the first neutralization step deteriorates (that is, interparticle aggregation increases), and as a result, the effect of the present invention cannot be obtained.

[0075] In the first neutralization step of the second embodiment of the production method of the present invention, the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution containing the alkali in an amount of 0.4 equivalents or more and 1.8 equivalents or less with respect to the total amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution are added so as to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. In addition, it is preferred that in the first neutralization step of the second embodiment of the production method of the present invention, the addition rate of each of the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution is adjusted so that the cumulative alkali addition equivalent is maintained within a range of 0.4 equivalents or more and 1.8 equivalents or less and the pH of the reaction system is maintained within a range of 3.0 or lower (preferably 0.0 or higher) through the neutralization step, and the pH at the end of the first neutralization step becomes 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower.

[0076] The total metal ion concentration in the raw material solution is not particularly specified in the present invention, but it is preferred to adjust the total concentration after alkali addition in the second neutralization step to 0.01 mol/kg or more and 0.5 mol/kg or less. When it is less than 0.01 mol/kg, the amount of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder obtained by one reaction is small, which is economically not preferred. When the total metal ion concentration exceeds 0.5 mol/kg, the reaction solution tends to gel due to the rapid occurrence of precipitation of a hydroxide, and therefore, it is not preferred.

[0077] The alkali concentration of the alkaline aqueous solution, in other words, the pH of the alkaline aqueous solution is also appropriately adjusted based on the same idea.

[0078] In the first neutralization step of the production method of the present invention, the raw material solution and the alkaline aqueous solution are added to the reaction system over a period of 10 minutes or more and mixed.

[0079] If the addition time is less than 10 minutes, the nuclear particles of the precursor are generated at a time immediately after the addition, and the ions that should have been used for nuclear growth are also consumed, so that the size of the precursor becomes small, which is not preferred from the viewpoint of obtaining the effect of the present invention.

[0080] Further, by extending the addition time, the particle diameter of the colloid obtained in the first neutralization step can be controlled, but if it is extended too much, the productivity deteriorates, and therefore, it is not preferred. Accordingly, the addition time is preferably 10 minutes or more and 480 minutes or less, and more preferably 60 minutes or more and 300 minutes or less.

[0081] In the production method of the present invention, the treatment temperature during the first neutralization treatment is not particularly limited, but is preferably set to 20° C. or higher and 60° C. or lower.

[Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Addition Step]

[0082] In the production method of the present invention, a hydroxycarboxylic acid is added to the colloidal solution obtained in the first neutralization step described above. The hydroxycarboxylic acid is a carboxylic acid having an OH group in the molecule and acts as a complexing agent for an iron ion. Here, it is considered that the hydroxycarboxylic acid has an effect of forming a complex with a trivalent iron ion dissolved in the reaction solution, and delaying a hydroxide formation reaction of iron when the second neutralization treatment is performed in the subsequent step, resulting in narrowing the distribution of the average particle diameter of the precursor fine particles containing an iron oxyhydroxide to be produced. Note that it is considered that the hydroxycarboxylic acid also forms a partial complex with the metal ion of the substituent element. The type and the addition amount of the hydroxycarboxylic acid may be in accordance with a known technique of PTL 4.

[0083] There exist many types of hydroxycarboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, various hydroxybutyric acids, glyceric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and mevalonic acid, but a polyvalent aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid is preferred from the viewpoint of a complexing ability, and tartaric acid, citric acid, or malic acid is more preferred in terms of price and ease of availability.

[0084] Further, with respect to the addition amount of the hydroxycarboxylic acid, the addition amount of the hydroxycarboxylic acid is preferably such that the molar ratio thereof with respect to the total amount of the trivalent iron ions and the ions of the substituent metal element M (D/(Fe+M)) is 0.125 or more and 1.0 or less.

[0085] The hydroxycarboxylic acid may be added in a mechanically stirred state without particularly changing the reaction temperature in the first neutralization step, which is the previous step. Although it may be added as a solid to the reaction solution, it is preferably added in an aqueous solution state from the viewpoint of ensuring the uniformity of the reaction.

[Second Neutralization Step]

[0086] In the production method of the present invention, an alkali is further added to the reaction solution after the addition of the hydroxycarboxylic acid so as to neutralize the pH to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower. As the alkali to be added, the alkaline aqueous solution used in the first neutralization step described above can be used, but a solution in which the alkali concentration is changed may be used. By this step, the nuclei of the iron oxyhydroxide, which is the precursor of the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles produced in the first neutralization step, grow and final precursor particles can be formed.

[0087] In this step, when the trivalent iron and the substituent metal element are neutralized by setting the pH after neutralization to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower, the iron oxyhydroxide containing the substituent metal element, which is a solid material, can be obtained without leaving dissolved ions of the trivalent iron and the substituent metal element in the reaction solution. If the pH after neutralization is set lower than 7.0, the substituent metal element which is not completely neutralized in the first neutralization step, for example, Co is left as an ion in the liquid to cause composition deviation in the solid material to be collected, and also waste the substituent metal element, and therefore, it is not preferred also from the viewpoint of production cost. Further, when the pH after neutralization exceeds 10.0, the effect of neutralization is saturated, and when, for example, an amphoteric metal such as Al is used as the substituent metal element, there arise problems that an ion is left in the liquid, the composition deviates, and the substituent metal element is wasted in the same manner as in the case where the pH is lower than 7.0, and therefore, it is not preferred.

[0088] The particles of the iron oxyhydroxide or the particles of the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide (precursor particles) contained in the slurry obtained in this step have an average diameter measured with a dynamic light scattering particle size distribution analyzer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a DLS average diameter) of preferably 300 nm or less, more preferably 100 nm or less, and further more preferably 70 nm or less. The small DLS average diameter in this manner means that the dispersibility of the precursor particles is good and the degree of aggregation is low, and is advantageous to the F-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that constitute the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to be finally obtained for reducing the number ratio of coarse particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more or the like. The lower limit of the DLS average diameter of the slurry containing the precursor particles is not particularly limited, but one having a diameter of about 20 nm or more is obtained by the production method of the present invention.

[Water Washing Step]

[0089] In the production method of the present invention, the iron oxyhydroxide as the precursor produced in the steps up to this point is small also in terms of DLS average diameter and has high dispersibility. However, the ionic strength in the solution increases as it goes through the hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step and the neutralization step in the steps up to the previous stage. If the ionic strength remains high, it will become an aggregation system in the subsequent coating step with silicon oxide, and therefore, it is not preferred. Therefore, it is preferred to wash the slurry obtained in the above step with water to reduce the ionic strength in the solution and bring it in a dispersed state. The water washing method is not particularly specified, but a method of performing a water washing treatment in a slurry state as such is preferred in consideration of maintenance of particle dispersibility in this step, washing uniformity, connection with the steps before and after this step, handleability, and the like. When considering this, water washing using an ultrafiltration membrane or an ion exchange membrane is preferred. In the case of washing using an ultrafiltration membrane, as the membrane, one having a molecular weight cut-off through which particles do not pass to the filtrate side is used, and with respect to completion of the washing, it is preferred to perform the washing until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate becomes 200 mS/m or less, more preferably 100 mS/m or less, and further more preferably 30 mS/m or less. When there are many residual ions, the melting point of silicon oxide is locally lowered in the subsequent heating step, and therefore, there is a problem that coarse particles are easily generated by sintering when obtaining ε-iron oxide.

[Coating Step with Silicon Oxide]

[0090] In the production method of the present invention, the precursor particles formed in the steps up to this point hardly undergo phase transition to the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles even if the particles are subjected to a heat treatment as they are, and therefore, prior to the heat treatment, a silicon oxide coating is applied to the precursor particles. As a coating method with silicon oxide, it is preferred to apply a sol-gel method. Note that the silicon oxide here includes not only one having a stoichiometric composition, but also one having a nonstoichiometric composition such as the below-mentioned silanol derivative or the like.

[0091] In the case of the sol-gel method, to an aqueous solution containing iron oxyhydroxide crystals or iron oxyhydroxide crystals containing a substituent element dispersed after the precursor reaction, a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group, for example, a silane compound such as tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), or any of various types of silane coupling agents is added to cause a hydrolysis reaction under stirring, and the surface of the iron oxyhydroxide crystal is coated with the generated silanol derivative. Further, an acid catalyst or an alkali catalyst may be added thereto. It is preferred to add it when considering the treatment time. Representative examples thereof include hydrochloric acid as the acid catalyst and ammonia as the alkali catalyst. When the acid catalyst is used, it is necessary to limit the addition of the acid catalyst to such an amount that the iron oxyhydroxide particles or the iron oxyhydroxide particles containing a substituent element are not dissolved.

[0092] Note that as a specific method for coating with silicon oxide, the same method as the sol-gel method in a known process can be adopted. For example, the reaction temperature for the silicon oxide coating in the sol-gel method is 20° C. or higher and 60° C. or lower, and the reaction time is about 1 hour or more and 20 hours or less. After the coating treatment with silicon oxide, solid-liquid separation and a drying treatment are performed to prepare a sample before the heating step. Here, after the coating treatment, water washing may be performed before solid-liquid separation. Further, here, at the time of solid-liquid separation, a flocculation agent may be added to perform the solid-liquid separation.

[Heating Step]

[0093] In the production method of the present invention, the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles are obtained by subjecting the precursor particles coated with silicon oxide to a heating treatment. Prior to the heating treatment, washing and drying steps may be provided. The heating treatment is performed in an oxidative atmosphere, and the oxidative atmosphere may be an air atmosphere. The heating treatment temperature varies depending on the coating amount of silicon oxide and therefore cannot be generalized, but the heating can be generally performed within a range of 700° C. or higher and 1300° C. or lower. When the heating temperature is too low, a different phase or a compound whose phase transition is not sufficient is likely to be mixed. When the lower limit of the heating temperature is set to 700° C. or higher, the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles that are the target of the present invention can be selectively and stably obtained, and as a result, the generation of a different phase or a compound whose phase transition is not sufficient can be suppressed. When the heating temperature is high, α-Fe₂O₃ that is a thermodynamically stable phase or partially substituted α-Fe₂O₃ is likely to be generated, and therefore, the heating treatment is performed preferably at 900° C. or higher and 1200° C. or lower, and more preferably at 950° C. or higher and 1150° C. or lower. The heating treatment time can be adjusted within a range of about 0.5 hours or more and 10 hours or less, but favorable results are easily obtained within a range of 2 hours or more and 5 hours or less.

[0094] By the above steps, the ε-iron oxide particles or the substitution-type ε-iron oxide particles coated with silicon oxide are obtained, but if necessary, the silicon oxide coating may be dissolved and removed using an alkaline aqueous solution.

[Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) Observation]

[0095] TEM observation of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder obtained by the production method of the present invention was performed under the following conditions. In the TEM observation, JEM-1011 manufactured by JEOL Ltd. was used. For particle observation, TEM photographs taken at a magnification of 10,000 times and a magnification of 100,000 times were used (those after removing the silicon oxide coating were used).

—Measurement of Average Particle Diameter, Particle Size Distribution, and Circularity—

[0096] Digitization was used in the evaluation of the TEM average particle diameter, particle size distribution, and circularity. Mac-View Ver. 4.0 was used as the image processing software. When the image processing software is used, the particle diameter of a certain particle is calculated as the length of the long side of a rectangle having the smallest area among the rectangles circumscribing the particle. Further, the circularity of a certain particle is calculated as a value obtained by dividing the product of the area of the particle and 4π by the square of the peripheral length of the particle. As for the number of particles, 200 or more particles were measured.

[0097] The selection criteria for the particles to be measured among the particles shown in the transmission electron micrograph were as follows.

• • [0098] [1] A particle that is partially outside the visual field of the micrograph is not measured.
  • [0099] [2] A particle with a well-defined contour and existing independently is measured.
  • [0100] [3] Even if the particle shape deviates from the average particle shape, a particle that is independent and can be measured as a single particle is measured.
  • [0101] [4] Particles that overlap each other, but the boundaries between the particles are clear, and also the shape of the entire particle can be determined are each measured as a single particle.
  • [0102] [5] Overlapping particles whose boundaries are not clear and also whose overall shape is unknown are regarded as particles whose shape cannot be determined and are not measured.

[0103] The number average particle diameter of the particles selected based on the above criteria was calculated and defined as the average particle diameter by TEM observation of the iron oxide magnetic powder. Further, a value obtained by dividing the “standard deviation of the particle diameter of the selected particle” by the “number average particle diameter (=average particle diameter) of the selected particles” was calculated and defined as the coefficient of variation of the particle diameter by TEM observation of the iron oxide magnetic powder. In addition, the number average circularity of the selected particles was calculated and defined as the average circularity by TEM observation of the iron oxide magnetic powder.

[DLS Average Diameter of Precursor]

[0104] The DLS particle diameter by a dynamic light scattering particle size distribution analysis of the slurry containing the iron oxyhydroxide or the substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide obtained by the production method of the present invention was measured under the following conditions.

[0105] As the dynamic light scattering particle size distribution analyzer, (FPAR-1000K high sensitivity specification) manufactured by Qtsuka Electronics Co., Ltd. was used, and as a fiber probe, a dilution-type probe was used. The measurement was performed under the following measurement conditions: a measurement time (seconds): 180 seconds, the number of repetitions: 1, and solvent setting:water. As the analysis mode, the Cumulant method was used.

[Compositional Analysis by High-Frequency Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP)]

[0106] The compositional analysis of the obtained ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder was performed. In the compositional analysis, ICP-720ES manufactured by Agilent Technologies, Inc. was used, and the analysis was performed by setting the measurement wavelength (nm) as follows: Fe: 259.940 nm, Ga: 294.363 nm, Co: 230.786 nm, Ti: 336.122 nm, Mn: 257.610 nm, Ni: 231.604 nm, Cr: 267.716 nm, Nd: 406.108 nm, Dy: 353.171 nm, and Gd: 342.246 nm. As the measurement wavelength of each metal element, a wavelength at which the linearity of the calibration curve can be obtained without interference with the spectra of other elements is selected according to the composition of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to be analyzed.

[Measurement of Magnetic Hysteresis Curve (B—H Curve)]

[0107] The magnetic properties of the obtained ε-type iron-based oxide magnetic powder were measured under the following conditions.

[0108] In the case of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder composed of the ε-iron oxide particles or the particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements, as a magnetic property measuring device, a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) (VSM-5, manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd.) was used, and magnetic properties were measured at an applied magnetic field of 1035 kA/m (13 kOe), an M measurement range of 0.005 A·m² (5 emu), an applied magnetic field change rate of 15 (kA/m·s), a time constant of 0.03 sec, and a wait time of 0.1 sec, and evaluation was performed for the coercive force Hc, saturation magnetization os, and SFD based on a B—H curve, and also evaluation for a low Hc component that does not contribute to magnetic recording was performed based on a differential B—H curve. Further, in this case, the intercept of the vertical axis in the 0 magnetic field of the differential B—H curve was represented I_L, and the peak height on the high Hc side was represented I_H. Note that the SFD refers to a value obtained by dividing the half width of the peak on the high Hc side by the coercive force Hc. In addition, in the measurement and evaluation, the attached software (Ver. 2.1) manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd. was used. When the value of the differential B—H curve at the maximum magnetic field was represented by I_Hmax, in the case where I_Hmax/I_H was 0.2 or less, the above measurement result was used. When I_Hmax/I_H exceeded 0.2, remeasurement was performed according to the following procedure.

[0109] As a result of measurement at an applied magnetic field of 1035 kA/m (13 kOe), when I_Hmax/I_H exceeded 0.2, a high temperature superconducting type VSM (VSM-5HSC, manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd.) was used, and magnetic properties were measured at an applied magnetic field Hmax of 2387 kA/m (30 kOe), an M measurement range of 0.005 A·m² (5 emu), an applied magnetic field change rate of 30 kA/(m·s), a time constant of 0.03 sec, and a wait time of 0.1 sec. As a result, when I_Hmax/I_H was 0.2 or less, the above measurement result was used, and when I_Hmax/I_H exceeded 0.2, remeasurement was performed according to the following procedure.

[0110] As a result of measurement at an applied magnetic field of 1035 kA/m (13 kOe) and 2387 kA/m (30 kOe), when I_Hmax/I_H exceeded 0.2, a high temperature superconducting type VSM (VSM-5HSC, manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd.) was used, and magnetic properties were measured at an applied magnetic field Hmax of 3979 kA/m (50 kOe), an M measurement range of 0.005 A·m² (5 emu), an applied magnetic field change rate of 30 kA/(m·s), a time constant of 0.03 sec, and a wait time of 0.1 sec. As a result, it was confirmed that I_Hmax/I_H is 0.2 or less, and therefore, this measurement result was used.

[0111] As an iron raw material containing chloride ions, 313.9 g of ferric(III) chloride hexahydrate with a purity of 99 mass %, as raw materials of substituent elements, 195.1 g of a gallium(III) nitrate solution with a Ga concentration of 9.4 mass % and a nitrate concentration of 24%, 15.8 g of cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate with a purity of 97 mass %, and 10.9 g of a titanium(IV) chloride solution with a Ti concentration of 16.5 mass % and a chloride ion concentration of 31 mass %, and 398.0 g of pure water were mixed, whereby a raw material solution was prepared. The molar ratio of metal ions in the raw material solution is as follows: Fe:Ga:Co:Ti=1.530:0.350:0.070:0.050. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1500 g of pure water was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 6.4 mass % ammonia aqueous solution as an alkaline aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the pure water, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the cumulative addition amount of the alkali with respect to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution was 0.80 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8.

[0112] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 288.75 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 20 mass % as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 152.86 g of a 22.4 mass % ammonia aqueous solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of precursor particles, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 152.86 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.6. Further, the DLS average diameter was 39 nm. A TEM photograph of the iron oxyhydroxide crystals containing the substituent elements obtained up to the procedure 2 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0113] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0114] An operation in which the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 is ejected from a nozzle with a diameter of 0.1 mm at a pressurized pressure of 245 MPa using a wet refining apparatus (Star Burst Mini manufactured by Sugino Machine Ltd., model number:HJP-25001) was repeated 10 times (procedure 4).

[0115] Thereafter, 506.1 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 4 was taken out, and the temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 138.8 g of a 22.1 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1171.3 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 552.8 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 7 hours to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 5).

[0116] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 5 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 6).

[0117] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 6 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 7).

[0118] The slurry obtained by the procedure 7 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 1 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 1 was obtained. The iron-based oxide magnetic powder had a coercive force of 177 kA/m, a saturation magnetization of 17.9 Am²/kg, an SFD of 1.00, and an I_L/I_H value of 0.41.

[0119] The obtained iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 1 was dispersed in pure water using an ultrasonic disperser to prepare a slurry, and the prepared slurry was dropped onto a collodion film on a grid and adhered thereto, and then, naturally dried. Thereafter, carbon vapor deposition was performed, and the resultant was subjected to TEM observation. As a result of measuring 200 particles by TEM observation, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.6 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.0%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 14.9%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 20%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.972. In FIG. 1, a TEM photograph of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder obtained in this Example is shown. Note that the length indicated by the white horizontal line displayed in the lower right of the TEM photograph is 100 nm. In addition, a compositional analysis was performed, and the molar compositional ratio of each metal element was calculated when the total amount of iron and the substituent metal elements was set to 2 mol. The above-mentioned production conditions are shown in Tables 1 and 2, and the measurement results for the obtained iron-based oxide magnetic powder are shown in Tables 3 and 4 (the same applies to the following Examples and Comparative Examples).

[0120] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 2 was obtained by the same procedure as in Example 1 except that the amounts of ferric (III) chloride hexahydrate, the gallium(III) nitrate solution, cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate, and the titanium(IV) chloride solution were changed so that the molar ratio of metal ions in the raw material solution becomes as follows Fe:Ga:Co:Ti=1.505:0.375:0.070:0.050, and the total molar amount of Fe, Ga, Co, and Ti in the raw material solution is the same as in Example 1, and the treatment with the wet refinement apparatus was not performed. Note that the pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8, and the pH after adding the ammonia solution all at once in the second neutralization step was 8.6. Further, the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the washed slurry was 54 nm.

[0121] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 191 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 17.8 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.08, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.48.

[0122] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.3 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.9%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 14.9%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.970.

[0123] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 3 was obtained by the same procedure as in Example 1 except that the addition amount of the citric acid solution was changed to 216.6 g, and the treatment with the wet refinement apparatus was not performed. Note that the pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8, and the pH after adding the ammonia solution all at once in the second neutralization step was 8.5. Further, the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the washed slurry was 44 nm.

[0124] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 154 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.3 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.25, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.51.

[0125] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 15.2 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 2.3%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 7.7%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 24%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.968.

[0126] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 4 was obtained by the same procedure as in Example 1 except that the addition amount of the citric acid solution was changed to 433.2 g, and the treatment with the wet refinement apparatus was not performed. Note that the pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8, and the pH after adding the ammonia solution all at once in the second neutralization step was 8.1. Further, the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the washed slurry was 31 nm.

[0127] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 185 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.0 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.07, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.44.

[0128] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.1 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.0%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 17.0%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 24%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.967.

[0129] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 5 was obtained by the same procedure as in Example 1 except that the concentration of the ammonia aqueous solution added in the first neutralization step was changed to 6.9 mass %, and the treatment with the wet refining apparatus was not performed. Note that while adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution was 0.85 equivalents, and the pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.2, and the pH after adding the ammonia solution all at once in the second neutralization step was 9.0. Further, the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the washed slurry was 221 nm.

[0130] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 182 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.1 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.10, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.44.

[0131] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 17.6 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.4%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 23.6%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 30%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.965.

[0132] This example is an example in which an experiment was performed by the same procedure as in Example 1 in PTL 4.

[0133] In a 5 L reaction vessel, 291.32 g of ferric(III) nitrate nonahydrate with a purity of 99.4%, 80.18 g of a gallium(III) nitrate solution with a Ga concentration of 10.1%, 6.58 g of cobalt (II) nitrate hexahydrate with a purity of 97%, and 7.14 g of titanium(IV) sulfate n-hydrate with a Ti concentration of 14.7% were dissolved in 3214.78 g of pure water while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade in an air atmosphere under the condition of 40° C. The molar ratio of metal ions in the preparation solution is as follows: Fe:Ga:Co:Ti=1.635:0.265:0.050:0.050.

[0134] While mechanically stirring with a stirring blade at 40° C. in an air atmosphere, 166.29 g of a 21.2% ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and stirring was continued for 2 hours. The mixture was a brown turbid liquid at the beginning of addition, but after 2 hours, the liquid turned into a transparent brown reaction solution, and the pH thereof was 2.0 (first neutralization step).

[0135] Subsequently, 252.66 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 10 mass % was continuously added thereto over 1 hour under the condition of 40° C., and thereafter, 200 g of a 10 mass % ammonia solution was added thereto all at once to adjust the pH to 8.5, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 1 hour while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby crystals of an iron oxyhydroxide containing substituent elements of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, were generated (procedure 11, second neutralization step). The result of observation with TEM of the iron oxyhydroxide crystals containing the substituent elements obtained in this Comparative Example is shown in FIG. 3. Note that the length indicated by the white horizontal line displayed in the lower right of the TEM photograph is 100 nm. When the slurry obtained by the procedure 11 was subjected to measurement of the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles, the result was above the allowable measurement range (up to 500 nm), and the DLS average diameter could not be measured.

[0136] Thereafter, while stirring at 30° C. in an air atmosphere, to the precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 11, 488.13 g of tetraethoxysilane was added over 35 minutes. Stirring was continued as such for about 1 day while maintaining the temperature at 30° C. Thereafter, a solution obtained by dissolving 194.7 g of ammonium sulfate in 300 g of pure water was added thereto, and the resulting solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 12).

[0137] After the precipitate obtained by the procedure 12 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1070° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained (procedure 13).

[0138] The heat-treated powder obtained by the procedure 13 was stirred at about 70° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles. Subsequently, washing was performed until the electrical conductivity of the washed slurry became 15 mS/m or less, and then, the solid was collected and dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Comparative Example 1 was obtained. The obtained magnetic powder was subjected to a chemical analysis of the composition, TEM observation, measurement of the magnetic properties, and the like.

[0139] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 313 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.8 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.89, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.50. Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.6 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 5.8%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 26.0%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 40%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.919. In FIG. 4, a TEM photograph of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder obtained in this Comparative Example is shown. Note that the length indicated by the white horizontal line displayed in the left of the TEM photograph is 100 nm.

[0140] This example is an example in which an experiment was performed by the same procedure as in Example 6 in PTL 4.

[0141] An iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Comparative Example 2 was obtained by the same procedure as in Comparative Example 1 except that the reaction temperature from the first neutralization step to the second neutralization step was changed to 20° C., the addition amount of the citric acid solution was changed to 505.32 g, and the heat treatment temperature of the dry powder was changed to 1055° C. Note that the pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.0, and the pH after adding the ammonia solution all at once in the second neutralization step was 8.5. Further, the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the slurry in the second neutralization step resulted in exceeding the allowable measurement range (up to 500 nm), and the DLS average diameter could not be measured. The obtained magnetic powder was subjected to a chemical analysis of the composition, TEM observation, measurement of the magnetic properties, and the like.

[0142] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 390 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 16.9 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.83, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.46. Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.3 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 4.0%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 25.4%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 37%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.910.

[0143] From the results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, it is found that in the production method according to the prior art of PTL 4, a production method in which the alkali is added to the raw material solution without continuously or intermittently adding the raw material solution and the alkali to the reaction system in the first neutralization step is adopted, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the particle diameter of the obtained precursor becomes small and the DLS average diameter becomes large, that is, the dispersibility deteriorates. Further, as a result, it is found that the particle size distribution of the obtained iron-based oxide particles becomes wide and the particle shape of the obtained iron-based oxide particles becomes distorted.

[0144] In a 5 L reaction vessel, 345.3 g of ferric(III) chloride hexahydrate with a purity of 99 mass %, 214.6 g of a gallium(III) nitrate solution with a Ga concentration of 9.4 mass %, 17.4 g of cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate with a purity of 97 mass %, and 12.0 g of titanium(IV) chloride solution with a Ti concentration of 16.5 mass % were dissolved in 3214.8 g of pure water while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade in an air atmosphere under the condition of 50° C. The molar ratio of metal ions in the raw material solution is as follows: Fe:Ga:Co:Ti=1.530:0.350:0.070:0.050.

[0145] While mechanically stirring with a stirring blade at 50° C. in an air atmosphere, 166.3 g of a 21.2% ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and stirring was continued for 2 hours. The mixture was a brown turbid liquid at the beginning of addition, but after 2 hours, the liquid turned into a transparent brown reaction solution, and the pH thereof was 1.9.

[0146] Subsequently, 288.8 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 10 mass % was continuously added thereto over 1 hour under the condition of 50° C., and thereafter, 200 g of a 10 mass % ammonia solution was added thereto all at once to adjust the pH to 8.6, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 1 hour while stirring under the condition of temperature of 50° C., whereby crystals of an iron oxyhydroxide containing substituent elements of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, were generated (procedure 21, second neutralization step). When the DLS average diameter of the precursor particles contained in the slurry obtained by the procedure 21 was measured, the DLS average diameter thereof was 160 nm.

[0147] Thereafter, while stirring at 30° C. in an air atmosphere, to the precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 21, 488.13 g of tetraethoxysilane was added over 35 minutes. Stirring was continued as such for about 1 day while maintaining the temperature at 30° C. Thereafter, a solution obtained by dissolving 194.7 g of ammonium sulfate in 300 g of pure water was added thereto, and the resulting solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 22).

[0148] After the precipitate obtained by the procedure 22 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1070° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic particle powder coated with silicon oxide was obtained (procedure 23).

[0149] The heat-treated powder obtained by the procedure 23 was stirred at about 70° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles. Subsequently, washing was performed until the electrical conductivity of the washed slurry became 15 mS/m or less, and then, the solid was collected and dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Comparative Example 3 was obtained. The obtained magnetic powder was subjected to a chemical analysis of the composition, TEM observation, measurement of the magnetic properties, and the like.

[0150] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 242 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.7 Am²/kg, the SFD was 2.14, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.72. Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 14.5 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 7.1%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 14.2%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 35%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.923.

[0151] From the results of Comparative Example 3, it is found that in the case where iron chloride was used as the iron raw material in the production method of PTL 4 according to the prior art, as compared with the case where iron nitrate was used as the iron raw material as in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the DLS average diameter of the obtained precursor slurry became smaller and the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more decreased in the obtained iron-based oxide magnetic powder, but the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or more was larger than in Examples, and there is a problem in terms of particle size distribution.

[0152] A precursor slurry was obtained by performing the process up to the second neutralization step by the same procedure as in Example 1 except that the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added at an addition rate of 7.8 g/min. The pH of the colloidal solution obtained in the first neutralization step was 3.6, and the pH after adding the ammonia aqueous solution in the second neutralization step was 9.3. When the obtained precursor slurry was subjected to measurement of the DLS average diameter, the result was above the allowable measurement range (up to 500 nm), and the DLS average diameter could not be measured.

[0153] The DLS average diameter of the precursor slurry was very large, and it was expected that an iron-based oxide magnetic powder having a wide particle size distribution with a number ratio of particles with a size of 20 nm or more exceeding 25% is obtained even if the following steps are performed, and therefore, the operation after the second neutralization step was not performed.

[0154] As a raw material solution, 1013 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.113 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 3.338 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1603 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.234 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.703 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.337 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 180 minutes at an addition rate of 5.6 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 180 minutes at an addition rate of 5.6 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 1.0 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8.

[0155] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 189 g of a 12.864 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 189 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.5.

[0156] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0157] Thereafter, 868 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 950 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 260 g of a 21.92 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1171 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1028 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0158] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1060° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide coated with silicon oxide was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0159] The powder of ε-iron oxide coated with silicon oxide obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide was obtained (procedure 6).

[0160] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 6 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 6 was obtained.

[0161] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 1236 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.0 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.89, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.31.

[0162] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 13.9 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 2.1%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 4.2%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.958.

[0163] As a raw material solution, 1019 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.056 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.066 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.167 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.133 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1598 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.225 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.674 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.267 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.2 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.2 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.99 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.1.

[0164] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 194 g of a 12.347 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 194 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 9.2.

[0165] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0166] Thereafter, 894 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 950 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 271 g of a 21.04 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1171 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1028 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0167] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1080° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0168] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0169] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 7 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 7 was obtained.

[0170] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 706 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 20.4 Am²/kg, the SFD was 2.65, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.79.

[0171] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 14.8 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 2.3%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 10.6%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 34%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.967.

[0172] As a raw material solution, 1021 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.055 mol/kg, a Ti(IV) concentration of 0.066 mol/kg, and a chloride ion concentration of 3.332 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1598 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.225 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.674 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.290 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.3 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.3 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.99 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.8.

[0173] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.347 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 9.1.

[0174] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0175] Thereafter, 882 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 950 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 271 g of a 21.04 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1171 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1028 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0176] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0177] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 15 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0178] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 8 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 8 was obtained.

[0179] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 1318 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.8 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.69, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.19.

[0180] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 15.6 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 1.5%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 12.9%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 30%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.973.

[0181] As a raw material solution, 822 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.132 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.320 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.549 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.955 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1584 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.196 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.614 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 2.275 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.4 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.4 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.51 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.6.

[0182] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 283 g of a 14.707 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 283 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.9.

[0183] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 150 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0184] Thereafter, 1119 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 142 g of a 25.06 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 640 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0185] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1100° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0186] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0187] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 9 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 9 was obtained.

[0188] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 655 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 20.4 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.71, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.21.

[0189] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 17.0 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.3%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 24.2%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 30%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.958.

[0190] As a raw material solution, 1013 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.063 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.033 mol/kg, a Ti(IV) concentration of 0.033 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.274 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.067 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1598 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.225 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.674 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.302 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.2 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 4.2 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.99 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.0.

[0191] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 185 g of a 12.993 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 185 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.9.

[0192] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0193] Thereafter, 865 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 950 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 258 g of a 22.14 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1171 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1028 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0194] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0195] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0196] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 10 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 10 was obtained.

[0197] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 779 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.8 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.70, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.20.

[0198] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.2 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.8%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 14.2%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 24%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.975.

[0199] As a raw material solution, 936 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.921 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.321 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.056 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 0.551 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 3.396 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1578 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.182 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.547 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.651 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.93 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.0.

[0200] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.553 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.6.

[0201] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 150 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0202] Thereafter, 1121 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 345 g of a 21.39 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0203] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1060° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0204] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0205] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 11 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 11 was obtained.

[0206] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 339 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 16.4 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.05, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.49.

[0207] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 15.0 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 2.0%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 8.5%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 22%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.968.

[0208] As a raw material solution, 894 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.009 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.294 mol/kg, a Ti(IV) concentration of 0.042 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.270 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.878 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1581 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.190 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.596 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 30° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 30° C., the raw material solution and a 4.423 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 30° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 1.07 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.3.

[0209] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 30° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 139 g of a 14.707 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 30° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 139 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.9.

[0210] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 150 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0211] Thereafter, 1114 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 30° C. while stirring, and 142 g of a 25.06 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 640 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 30° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0212] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1100° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0213] The powder of z-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0214] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 12 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 12 was obtained.

[0215] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 485 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 20.5 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.31, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.44.

[0216] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 15.2 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 2.2%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 14.0%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 39%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.955.

[0217] As a raw material solution, 893 g of a raw material solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.928 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.202 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Ti(IV) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Mn(II) concentration of 0.168 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 2.880 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 1.051 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1575 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.175 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.526 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.644 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.93 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.1.

[0218] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 260 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 188 g of a 12.465 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 188 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.7.

[0219] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0220] Thereafter, 1107 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 153 g of a 23.24 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 640 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0221] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0222] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0223] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 13 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 13 was obtained.

[0224] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 569 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.3 Am²/kg, the SFD was 0.75, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.21.

[0225] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 16.8 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.4%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 17.8%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 24%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.972.

[0226] As a raw material solution, 893 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.993 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.235 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Ni(II) concentration of 0.084 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 2.980 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 1.005 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1581 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.187 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.561 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.734 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.94 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.1.

[0227] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 274 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 193 g of a 12.465 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 193 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.8.

[0228] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0229] Thereafter, 1057 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 347 g of a 21.24 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0230] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0231] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0232] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 14 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 14 was obtained.

[0233] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 394 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 23.4 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.53, and the I_L/I_H value was 1.31.

[0234] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 14.6 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 1.9%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 7.0%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.967.

[0235] As a raw material solution, 895 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.991 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.235 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Cr(III) concentration of 0.084 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 2.974 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 1.087 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1581 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.187 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.561 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.808 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.94 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.0.

[0236] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.553 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.5.

[0237] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0238] Thereafter, 1084 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 345 g of a 21.39 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0239] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1130° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0240] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 14 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0241] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 15 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 15 was obtained.

[0242] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 400 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 15.3 Am²/kg, the SFD was 2.28, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.76.

[0243] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 14.9 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.5%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 9.9%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 28%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.968.

[0244] As a raw material solution, 894 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.024 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.235 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Nd(III) concentration of 0.042 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.072 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.962 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1583 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.193 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.578 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.793 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.94 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.0.

[0245] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 282 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.465 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.8.

[0246] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0247] Thereafter, 1120 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 347 g of a 21.24 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0248] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1090° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0249] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0250] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 16 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 16 was obtained.

[0251] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 415 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.9 Am²/kg, the SFD was 2.03, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.58.

[0252] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 13.8 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 1.9%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 6.7%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.966.

[0253] As a raw material solution, 894 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.024 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.235 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Dy(III) concentration of 0.042 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.072 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.962 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1583 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.193 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.578 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.793 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.94 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.1.

[0254] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 282 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.465 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.8.

[0255] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0256] Thereafter, 1097 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 347 g of a 21.24 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0257] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1090° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0258] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0259] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 17 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 17 was obtained.

[0260] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 441 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 19.0 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.97, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.55.

[0261] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 13.9 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 3.0%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 5.6%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.966.

[0262] As a raw material solution, 894 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.024 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.235 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.038 mol/kg, a Gd(III) concentration of 0.042 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 3.072 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.962 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1583 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 0.193 mol/kg and a chloride ion concentration of 0.578 mol/kg was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.793 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into the aqueous solution, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.7 g/min. While adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.94 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 2.1.

[0263] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 282 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 196 g of a 12.465 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 196 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.8.

[0264] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0265] Thereafter, 1132 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 1150 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 347 g of a 21.24 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 1406 g of ethanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 1327 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0266] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1090° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0267] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0268] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 18 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 18 was obtained.

[0269] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 426 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 18.8 Am²/kg, the SFD was 1.46, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.58.

[0270] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 13.7 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.9%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 2.7%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 25%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.966.

[0271] As a raw material solution, 941 g of an aqueous solution with an Fe(III) concentration of 1.366 mol/kg, a Ga(III) concentration of 0.160 mol/kg, a Co(II) concentration of 0.036 mol/kg, a Ti(IV) concentration of 0.036 mol/kg, a chloride ion concentration of 4.190 mol/kg, and a nitrate ion concentration of 0.606 mol/kg was prepared. Subsequently, in a 5 L reaction vessel, 1500 g of pure water was placed, and the liquid temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while mechanically stirring with a stirring blade. Subsequently, while continuing stirring and keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., the raw material solution and a 3.836 mol/kg ammonia aqueous solution were simultaneously added into this pure water, and thereafter, stirring was performed for 60 minutes while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., whereby a colloidal solution was obtained (procedure 1, first neutralization step). Here, the raw material solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min, and the ammonia aqueous solution was continuously added over 240 minutes at an addition rate of 3.9 g/min. while adding the raw material solution and the ammonia aqueous solution, the ratio of the cumulative addition amount of the alkali to the total cumulative addition amount of the acid group contained in the raw material solution is 0.80 equivalents. The pH of the obtained colloidal solution was 1.9.

[0272] Subsequently, to the colloidal solution obtained by the procedure 1, 289 g of a citric acid solution with a citric acid concentration of 1.041 mol/kg as a hydroxycarboxylic acid was continuously added over 60 minutes under the condition of 40° C. (hydroxycarboxylic acid addition step), and thereafter, 190 g of a 12.835 mol/kg ammonia solution was added thereto all at once, and then, the resulting mixture was held for 10 minutes while stirring under the condition of temperature of 40° C., whereby a slurry of a precursor, which is an intermediate product, was obtained (procedure 2, second neutralization step). The pH after adding 190 g of the ammonia solution all at once was 8.6.

[0273] The precursor slurry obtained by the procedure 2 was collected and washed with an ultrafiltration membrane and a membrane having a UF molecular weight cut-off of 50,000 until the electrical conductivity of the filtrate became 30 mS/m or less (procedure 3).

[0274] Thereafter, 705 g of the washed slurry obtained by the procedure 3 was taken out, and pure water was added thereto to give a total amount of 757 g. The temperature was adjusted to 40° C. while stirring, and 207 g of a 22.25 mass % ammonia aqueous solution and 945 g of 2-propanol were added thereto, followed by stirring for 5 minutes, and 829 g of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group was further added thereto over 35 minutes. Thereafter, while keeping the liquid temperature at 40° C., stirring was continued as such for 1 hour to carry out coating with a hydrolysate of the silicon compound. Thereafter, the obtained solution was washed and subjected to solid-liquid separation, and the product was collected as a cake (procedure 4).

[0275] After the cake (the precursor coated with the hydrolysate in a gel form) obtained by the procedure 4 was dried, the resulting dry powder was subjected to a heat treatment at 1050° C. for 4 hours in a furnace with an air atmosphere, whereby a powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, was obtained. Note that the hydrolysate of the silicon compound turns into an oxide when it is subjected to a heat treatment in an air atmosphere (procedure 5).

[0276] The powder of ε-iron oxide, in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements, and which was coated with silicon oxide, obtained by the procedure 5 was stirred at about 60° C. for 24 hours in a 20 mass % NaOH aqueous solution so as to carry out a treatment of removing the silicon oxide on the surfaces of the particles, whereby a slurry containing particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites were partially substituted by other metal elements was obtained (procedure 6).

[0277] The slurry obtained by the procedure 6 was washed with pure water until the electrical conductivity became 15 mS/m or less, whereby a washed slurry according to Example 18 was obtained. To the obtained washed slurry, a 1 mass % sulfuric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 6.5, followed by membrane filtration, and the cake was collected and then dried, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder according to Example 18 was obtained.

[0278] As a result of measuring the magnetic properties of the iron-based oxide magnetic powder, the coercive force was 313 kA/m, the saturation magnetization was 14.2 Am²/kg, the SFD was 2.39, and the I_L/I_H value was 0.93.

[0279] Further, as a result of subjecting the iron-based oxide magnetic powder to TEM observation by the same procedure as in Example 1, the TEM average particle diameter was 13.5 nm, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 8 nm or less was 0.5%, the number ratio of particles with a particle diameter of 20 nm or more was 15.1%, the coefficient of variation (CV value) was 30%, and the average circularity of the particles was 0.959.

[0280]

	TABLE 1
	Raw materials
	Preparation composition (molar ratio Fe + Ga + Co + Ti +
	Mn +Ni + Cr + Nd + Dy + Gd = 2.0)
	Iron raw material	Fe	Ga	Co	Ti	Mn	Ni	Cr	Nd	Dy	Gd
Example 1	Iron(III) chloride	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 2	Iron(III) chloride	1.505	0.375	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 3	Iron(III) chloride	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 4	Iron(III) chloride	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 5	Iron(III) chloride	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Comparative	Iron(III) nitrate	1.635	0.265	0.050	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 1
Comparative	Iron(III) nitrate	1.635	0.265	0.050	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 2
Comparative	Iron(III) chloride	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 3
Comparative	Iron(III) nitrate	1.530	0.350	0.070	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 4
Example 6	Iron(III) chloride	2.000	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 7	Iron(III) chloride	1.910	0	0.090	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 8	Iron(III) chloride	1.910	0	0	0.090	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 9	Iron(III) chloride	1.650	0.350	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 10	Iron(III) chloride	1.910	0	0.045	0.045	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 11	Iron(III) chloride + iron(III) nitrate	1.530	0.400	0.070	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 12	Iron(III) chloride	1.600	0.350	0	0.050	0	0	0	0	0	0
Example 13	Iron(III) chloride	1.470	0.240	0.045	0.045	0.200	0	0	0	0	0
Example 14	Iron(III) chloride	1.575	0.280	0.045	0	0	0.100	0	0	0	0
Example 15	Iron(III) chloride	1.575	0.280	0.045	0	0	0	0.100	0	0	0
Example 16	Iron(III) chloride	1.625	0.280	0.045	0	0	0	0	0.050	0	0
Example 17	Iron(III) chloride	1.625	0.280	0.045	0	0	0	0	0	0.050	0
Example 18	Iron(III) chloride	1.625	0.280	0.045	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.050
Example 19	Iron(III) chloride	1.710	0.200	0.045	0.045	0	0	0	0	0	0

[0281]

	TABLE 2
	Production method
	First stage of	Hydroxycarboxylic
	neutralization	acid	pH arrived	DLS	Metal molar
		Cumulative				Metal	at second	average	ratio to
	Reaction	alkali	Neutraliza-	pH at end		molar ratio	stage of	diameter of	addition	Firing
	temperature	addition	tion time	of alkali		to addition	neutrali-	precursor	amount of	temperature
	(° C.)	equivalent	(min)	addition	type	amount	zation	(nm)	TEOS	(° C.)
Example 1	40	0.80	240	1.8	citric acid	0.20	8.6	39	15.96	1130
Example 2	40	0.80	240	1.8	citric acid	0.20	8.6	54	15.96	1130
Example 3	40	0.80	240	1.8	citric acid	0.15	8.5	44	15.96	1130
Example 4	40	0.80	240	1.8	citric acid	0.30	8.1	31	15.96	1130
Example 5	40	0.80	240	2.2	citric acid	0.20	9.0	221	15.96	1130
Comparative	40	—	1	2.0	citric acid	0.15	8.5	—	15.96	1070
Example 1
Comparative	20	—	1	2.0	citric acid	0.30	8.5	—	15.96	1055
Example 2
Comparative	50	—	1	1.9	citric acid	0.20	8.6	160	15.96	1070
Example 3
Comparative	40	0.80	240	3.6	citric acid	0.20	9.3	—	15.96	1130
Example 4
Example 6	40	1.00	180	1.8	citric acid	0.20	8.5	54	15.96	1060
Example 7	40	0.99	240	2.1	citric acid	0.20	9.2	147	15.96	1080
Example 8	40	0.99	240	1.8	citric acid	0.20	9.1	36	15.96	1130
Example 9	40	0.51	240	1.6	citric acid	0.20	8.9	102	7.98	1100
Example 10	40	0.99	240	2.0	citric acid	0.20	8.9	37	15.96	1130
Example 11	40	0.93	240	2.0	citric acid	0.20	8.6	196	15.96	1060
Example 12	30	1.07	240	2.3	citric acid	0.20	8.9	94	7.98	1100
Example 13	40	0.93	240	2.1	citric acid	0.18	8.7	57	15.96	1130
Example 14	40	0.94	240	2.1	citric acid	0.19	8.8	40	15.96	1130
Example 15	40	0.94	240	2.0	citric acid	0.20	8.5	354	15.96	1130
Example 16	40	0.94	240	2.0	citric acid	0.20	8.8	45	15.96	1090
Example 17	40	0.94	240	2.1	citric acid	0.20	8.8	39	15.96	1090
Example 18	40	0.94	240	2.1	citric acid	0.20	8.8	112	15.96	1090
Example 19	40	0.80	240	1.9	citric acid	0.20	8.6	48	15.96	1050

[0282]

	TABLE 3
	TEM observation
	Average	Ratio of particles	Ratio of particles			Composition
	particle	with size of 8	with size of 20	Coefficient		(molar ratio Fe + Ga + Co + Ti + Mn +
	diameter	nm or less	nm or more	of variation		Ni + Cr + Nd + Dy + Gd = 2.0)
	(nm)	(% by number)	(% by number)	(%)	Circularity	Fe	Ga	Co	Ti	Others
Example 1	16.6	0.0	14.9	20	0.972	1.59	0.32	0.04	0.05	—
Example 2	16.3	0.9	14.9	25	0.970	1.56	0.35	0.04	0.05	—
Example 3	15.2	2.3	7.7	24	0.968	1.58	0.32	0.05	0.05	—
Example 4	16.1	0.0	17.0	24	0.967	1.58	0.32	0.05	0.05	—
Example 5	17.6	0.4	23.6	30	0.965	1.58	0.32	0.05	0.05	—
Comparative	16.6	5.8	26.0	40	0.919	1.66	0.24	0.04	0.05	—
Example 1
Comparative	16.3	4.0	25.4	37	0.910	1.67	0.25	0.03	0.05	—
Example 2
Comparative	14.5	7.1	14.2	35	0.923	1.59	0.32	0.04	0.05	—
Example 3
Comparative	DLS average diameter was large and no good, and therefore, evaluation was abandoned.
Example 4
Example 6	13.9	2.1	4.2	25	0.958	2	0	0	0	—
Example 7	14.8	2.3	10.6	34	0.967	1.91	0	0.07	0	—
Example 8	15.6	1.5	12.9	30	0.973	1.92	0	0	0.08	—
Example 9	17.0	0.3	24.2	30	0.958	1.67	0.33	0	0	—
Example 10	16.2	0.8	14.2	24	0.975	1.93	0	0.03	0.04	—
Example 11	15.0	2.0	8.5	22	0.968	1.51	0.42	0.05	0	—
Example 12	15.2	2.2	14.0	39	0.955	1.62	0.34	0	0.04	—
Example 13	16.8	0.4	17.8	24	0.972	1.60	0.23	0.02	0.05	Mn: 0.11
Example 14	14.6	1.9	7.0	25	0.967	1.68	0.27	0.03	0	Ni: 0.02
Example 15	14.9	0.5	9.9	28	0.968	1.63	0.26	0.03	0	Cr: 0.08
Example 16	13.8	1.9	6.7	25	0.966	1.69	0.26	0.03	0	Nd: 0.01
Example 17	13.9	3.0	5.6	25	0.966	1.70	0.26	0.02	0	Dy: 0.01
Example 18	13.7	0.9	2.7	25	0.966	1.69	0.26	0.03	0	Gd: 0.02
Example 19	13.5	0.5	15.1	30	0.959	1.71	0.22	0.03	0.04	—

[0283]

TABLE 4
	Magnetic properties
	Hmax	Hc	σs	SFD
	(kA/m)	(kA/m)	(Am2/kg)	(main peak)	IL/IH
Example 1	1035	177	17.9	1.00	0.41
Example 2	1035	191	17.8	1.08	0.48
Example 3	1035	154	18.3	1.25	0.51
Example 4	1035	185	18.0	1.07	0.44
Example 5	1035	182	18.1	1.10	0.44
Comparative	1035	313	15.8	0.89	0.50
Example 1
Comparative	1035	390	16.9	0.83	0.46
Example 2
Comparative	1035	242	15.7	2.14	0.72
Example 3
Comparative	DLS average diameter was large and no good, and
Example 4	therefore, evaluation was abandoned.
Example 6	3979	1236	15.0	0.89	0.31
Example 7	3979	706	20.4	2.65	0.79
Example 8	3979	1318	15.8	0.69	0.19
Example 9	2387	655	20.4	0.71	0.21
Example 10	2387	779	15.8	0.70	0.20
Example 11	1035	339	16.4	1.05	0.49
Example 12	2387	485	20.5	1.31	0.44
Example 13	2387	569	18.3	0.75	0.21
Example 14	2387	394	23.4	1.53	1.31
Example 15	2387	400	15.3	2.28	0.76
Example 16	2387	415	18.9	2.03	0.58
Example 17	2387	441	19.0	1.97	0.55
Example 18	2387	426	18.8	1.46	0.58
Example 19	1035	313	14.2	2.39	0.93