Universiti Sains Malaysia Finds New Way to Produce Magnesium Ferrite

2009-06-15

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has developed a new process to produce magnesium ferrite, which has the capacity to block the effects of microwaves emanating from electronic equipment.

Research conducted by Prof Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Noor of the university's School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering has resulted in the production of the ferrite, which can absorb the microwaves of electronic equipment such as mobile telephones, audio-visual gadgets and medical apparatus.

"Conventionally, ferrite is produced through a mixture of specific substances which are heated to a temperature of 1,400 degrees Celsius.

"However, under this new process, the ferrite can be produced by heating to a temperature of only 200 degrees Celsius with a resultant high purity and better microwave absorption composition," he told reporters here.

Ahmad Fauzi said microwaves emanating from electronic equipment posed a threat to human health and could disrupt the proper functioning of certain equipment.

Thus, the restriction on the use of mobile telephones in hospital wards and operation theatres, he added.

Ahmad Fauzi, who had conducted the research over the past two years, said the finding would eventually make Malaysia a world producer of ferrite besides the United States and Japan.

"We are in the process of carrying out a pioneer project and preparing a module for commercial production of the material," he said.