Process for producing ferromagnetic powder

A process for producing a ferromagnetic powder which comprises:

• a. preparing an aqueous solution by (a) adding metal salts, hypophosphite ions, and precious metal ions to water;
• said metal salts consisting essentially of salts of nickel or cobalt or both, said metal salts also including salts of metals wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Al, S, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in an amount of 0 - 10% by weight of the total salts used;
• the concentration of total salts in the aqueous solution being in the range of 0.001 to 1 mole per liter and adjusting the pH to greater than 5, (b) adding an organic solvent to the aqueous solution at the same time said metal salts, hypophosphite ions and said precious metal ions are added to said water or up to the time immediately after the commencement of a hydrogen gas evolution which accompanies the reaction of said metal salts and hypophosphite ions;
• said organic solvent being non-reactive with the metal salts or hypophosphite ions, said organic solvent having a melting point lower than 65.degree. C;
• 2. reacting and reducing the metal salts with the hypophosphite ions to form a precipitate by heating the aqueous solution to a temperature of 65.degree. to 95.degree. C, applying a pressure of 0.5 to 5 atmospheres, and subjecting the aqueous solution to a magnetic field of from 10 to 10,000 oe;
• 3. collecting the precipitate obtained in (2);
• and
• 4. washing the precipiate of (3).