Abstract: A process and apparatus for the manufacture of magnetic recording media, in which, immediately before the magnetic dispersion is applied to a base, the dispersion is subjected to shear by means of a disc rotatably mounted in a housing, by introducing it at the center of rotation of the disc and forcing it through a gap formed between the face of the disc and the wall of the housing, which gap tapers toward the rim of the disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of magnetic discs carrying very thin magnetic layers, by applying a fluid dispersion of magnetic materials in a binder mixture to rigid base discs by the spin-coating process. Above the side of the base disc which is to be provided with the magnetic layer, there are arranged means which produce an aerodynamic boundary layer above the discs during rotation of the latter. This avoids the formation of surface irregularities and of coating streaks during production of the layer by spin-coating.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an acicular magnetic iron oxide containing from 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of cobalt and up to 24 percent by weight of divalent iron, each based on the amount of iron(III) oxide, wherein an aqueous suspension of gamma-iron(III) oxide, containing cobalt(II) and iron(II) ions, the suspension having a hydroxyl ion concentration of more than 3.6.times.10.sup.-6 moles/liter, is heated at from 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. for at least 15 minutes, and the resulting precipitate is filtered off, washed until neutral, dried at below 100.degree. C. and thereafter heated at from 100.degree. to 200.degree. C.The products thus obtained give, even when their cobalt content is low, a very high coercive force, while the effect of temperature on the coercive force and residual induction is very slight.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular ferromagnetic iron particles by reducing acicular iron(III) oxide hydroxides which consist of pure synthetic lepidocrocite or a mixture of synthetic goethite and at least 70% by weight of synthetic lepidocrocite.The iron(III) oxide hydroxides used carry, on their surface, an alkaline earth metal cation and an anion of a monobasic, dibasic or tribasic aliphatic carboxylic acid of up to 6 carbon atoms or an organic compound containing at least two groups capable of chelating the alkaline earth metal cation, and are produced in such a way that they consist of at least 70 percent by weight of lepidocrocite and have a length-to-width ratio of not less than 15:1.Reduction of such iron(III) oxide hydroxides gives iron particles with pronounced shape anisotropy, which exhibit both good magnetic properties and a narrow field strength distribution.

Abstract: Chromium dioxide magnetic pigments can be stabilized against the loss of their magnetic properties by treating them, in alcoholic aqueous suspension, with a silane or a hydrolysis product thereof, so that when the pigment is isolated from the suspension medium the particles bear at least partially hydrolyzed silane on their surfaces, and then drying the magnetic pigment at from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular ferromagnetic metal particles which essentially consist of iron and carry, on their surface, from 0.02 to 0.6% by weight of boron in the form of a borate, by reducing an acicular iron oxide with a gaseous reducing agent at from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C., wherein a compound selected from the group comprising boron oxyacids and their inorganic salts is precipitated on the said iron oxide before reduction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of magnetic discs carrying very thin magnetic layers, by applying a fluid dispersion of magnetic materials in a binder mixture to rigid base discs by the spin-coating process. Above the side of the base disc which is to be provided with the magnetic layer, there are arranged means which produce an aerodynamic boundary layer above the discs during rotation of the latter. This avoids the formation of surface irregularities and of coating streaks during production of the layer by spin-coating.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing pyrophoric metal powders by treating the metal powders with alkylene oxides to form a polymer coating on the metal particles.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular gamma-iron(III) oxide, in which the non-magnetic, acicular iron(III) oxide is treated with a solution of a compound of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are ##STR2## or O--R.sup.5, R.sup.3 is H, OH, ##STR3## or O--R.sup.5, R.sup.4 is alkyl or cycloalkyl of 1 to 16 carbon atoms and the R.sup.4 's may be identical or different, and R.sup.5 is alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl of 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and is then converted to gamma-iron(III) oxide by reduction to magnetite, followed by oxidation.The gamma-iron(III) oxide obtained is distinguished by a high coercive force and improved magnetic orientation when used as a magnetic pigment for the manufacture of magnetic recording media.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of acicular cobalt-modified .gamma.-iron(III) oxide by coating an acicular .alpha.-iron(III) oxide or its hydrate with an inorganic protective coating, subsequent reduction to magnetite at 350.degree. to 650.degree. C, application of the cobalt compound to this magnetite or to the .gamma.-iron(III) oxide obtained therefrom by oxidation, and subsequent heat treatment at 80.degree. to 300.degree. C, if necessary with simultaneous oxidation of the magnetite to the corresponding .gamma.-iron(III) oxide. This iron oxide has high coercivity and can be used as the magnetic component in magnetic recording media for recording high frequencies without having the disadvantage of thermal and mechanical instability.

Abstract: Goethite is obtained by reacting an aqueous solution of an iron (II) salt with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide and oxidizing the resulting iron(II) hydroxide. The oxidation is carried out in three stages. In the first stage, from 4 to 15% by weight are oxidized in the course of from 0.4 to 5 hours, in the second stage from 60 to 85% by weight are oxidized in the course of from 1.5 to 6 hours and in a third stage the remaining amount of iron is oxidized.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular ferromagnetic metal pigments containing iron, having a reduced field strength distribution and a steeper residual magnetization curve, by applying equivalent amounts of an alkaline earth metal cation and of a monobasic, dibasic or tribasic aliphatic carboxylic acid of up to 6 carbon atoms onto appropriate acicular iron oxides and then reducing the treated oxides.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular magnetic gamma-iron(III) oxide by reducing acicular alpha-iron(III) oxide to magnetite and then oxidizing it to gamma-iron(III) oxide, wherein the alpha-iron(III) oxide is treated with a water-soluble alkaline earth metal compound and an alkylphenol with one to three alkyl radicals, each of 4 to 24 carbon atoms, on the benzene nucleus. Gamma-iron(III) oxides manufactured in this way show better magnetic orientability in the binder-containing dispersion, and a higher coercive force than prior art magnetic pigments.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acicular ferromagnetic metal pigments containing iron, having a reduced field strength distribution and a steeper residual magnetization curve, by applying an alkaline earth metal cation and an organic compound having at least one group capable of forming a chelate to appropriate acicular iron oxides and then reducing the treated oxides.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing magnetic recording media in which the magnetic particles in the recording layer are oriented in a preferred direction, the fluid coating applied to the base being subjected to the action of a magnetic field produced in the air gaps between the spaced apart poles of two magnetic circuits, one on each side of the coated face, arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of the coated base, the edges of the poles adjacent to the coated base terminating in screening elements shaped in such a way that the distance between the surfaces of the screening elements facing the coated base and the coated base itself increases as the screening elements extend away from the edges of the poles. A high degree of magnetic anisotropy in the recording layer can also be obtained when the magnetic circuits are at a relatively large distance from the still fluid magnetic coating.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the non-destructive measurement of the remanent flux density of magnetic recording media, by recording a specific signal and reproducing the recorded signal by means of two pairs of magnetic recording and playback heads arranged opposite one another and perpendicular to the plane of the recording medium, the ratio of the distance between the individual magnetic heads of each pair of heads to the wavelength of the recorded signal being within a specific range, and the said distance being such that a magnetic recording medium is movable symmetrically between the pair of heads, a common measuring unit being associated with the playback pair. Further features of the device relate to the design of the magnetic recording and playback heads, the measuring unit and the rate at which the particular magnetic recording medium being tested moves between the pairs of heads.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of magnetic materials containing a phase A with a ferromagnetic spin system, of composition Co.sub.x Ni.sub.1.sub.-x and a phase B with an antiferromagnetic spin system of composition (CoO).sub.x (NiO).sub.1.sub.-x , with values of x from 0.05 to 0.96, the phases A and B showing exchange interaction. The materials are manufactured by surface oxidation of starting materials having a ferromagnetic layer, at least on the surface but optionally extending deeper, of composition A, to produce the antiferromagnetic phase B, nitrous oxide being used as the oxidant. Magnetic materials thus obtained have an asymmetrical hysteresis loop, which manifests itself at different temperatures, namely the particular Neel temperature of the phase B, which depends on the composition of the phases which varies in accordance with the values of x.

Abstract: Magnetic materials which essentially consist of a phase A with a ferromagnetic spin system and a phase B with an anti-ferromagnetic spin system, phases A and B interacting by exchange coupling, and the manufacture of such materials. The materials consist essentially of two-phase magnetic single-domain particles, with the alloy [Co.sub.x Ni.sub.1.sub.-x ] as the ferromagnetic phase A and its oxidized form [(CoO).sub.x (NiO).sub.1.sub.-x ] as the anti-ferromagnetic phase B, with values of x of 0.04 to 0.96. They are manufactured by surface oxidation of a pigment layer, which at least covers the surface but may extend deeper, having the composition of phase A, to form an oxide layer, at least 40 A thick, of the phase B, followed by heating in an inert gas atmosphere, or by reduction of a corresponding layer of phase B to a layer of phase A. Magnetic single-domain particles of this composition have a Neel temperature which varies with X.