ABSTRACT

The history of ferrites ("ferro"-oxides) began many centuries ago with the discovery of lodestones consisting of the black ore magnetite (Fe304), which would attract iron. This is believed to have been discovered in ancient Greece around 800 Be. Magnets found their first application in compasses, which were used by the Vikings in the ninth century, or perhaps even earlier. A first milestone in the history of magnetism was the work done by William Gilbert in 1600 describing the magnetic properties of lodestone up to that point in time. It was not until 200 years later that major developments occurred. The new science of electromagnetism was developed through the work of H. C. Oersted, A. M. Ampere, W. E. Weber, M. Faraday, P. Curie, J. C. Maxwell, and many others. Researchers were getting to know the basis of electromagnetic theory in general and the crystal structures of related materials.