Abstract: Fine iron carbide particles consisting essentially of iron carbide, which are characterized in that, in the step of the variation of the weight under the condition of combustion, the increase of the weight in the equilibrium after arrival at the maximum weight is 22% or less, on the basis of the weight before combustion.

Abstract: The present invention provides acicular particles (A) containing an iron carbide, which have (a) a free carbon content of at most 20 wt. %, and (b) an Fe.sub.5 C.sub.2 ratio(x) of at least 70% and a coercive force of 3x+300 to 7x+270 Oe, the ratio(x) being expressed by ##EQU1## wherein S1 is the X-ray diffraction strength of Fe.sub.5 C.sub.2, and S2 is the X-ray diffraction strength of Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4. The invention further provides particles (B) containing nickel and an iron carbide. The invention further provides acicular particles containing an iron carbide which are obtained by heating an aqueous dispersion of ferric hydroxide in an alkaline system in the presence of a water-soluble compound capable of coordinating to iron to obtain acicular .alpha.-ferric oxide and contacting the product with a carbon-containing reducing-and-carburizing agent or with a mixture of the agent and a carbon-free reducing agent, with or without contacting the product with the carbon-free reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel acicular particles, processes for using the same, and magnetic materials prepared from such particles. In particular, the invention relates to an acicular particulate material containing iron carbide and having a high coercive force(Hc) an orientation property in a magnetic field.

Abstract: A process for producing cobalt-modified iron oxide particles, which comprises the steps of:(1) adding to magnetic iron oxide particles(a) a cobalt compound,(b) an iron component which is either (b.sub.1) a ferric compound at an atomic ratio to the cobalt compound in the range of 0.68 to 2 or (b.sub.2) a combination of a ferrous compound and a ferric compound, and(c) an alkali at a concentration enough to cause the cobalt and iron to precipitate as hydroxides; and(2) heating the mixture at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and not higher than the reflux temperature thereof in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.