Method of manufacturing an anisotropic oxidic permanent magnet

A method of manufacturing an anisotropic oxidic permanent magnet having a hexagonal crystal structure and uniaxial anisotropy, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing one or more first compounds from the group consisting of iron oxide and iron compounds which form iron oxide upon heating;
• providing one or more second compounds from the group consisting of barium oxide, strontium oxide, lead oxide, and compounds of barium, strontium, and lead which form the respective oxides upon heating and optionally calcium partially replacing, the barium, strontium, and lead
• mixing the first and second compounds in proportions which will form a magnet having a W-ferrite phase having a composition defined by the formula MeFe.sub.2.sup.2+ Fe.sub.16.sup.3+ O.sub.27, where Me is a metal from the second compound;
• prefiring the mixture at a prefiring temperature in an oxygen-containing atmosphere having a partial oxygen pressure, the partial oxygen pressure and prefiring temperature being chosen to form the desired ferrite phase, said prefiring producing a prefired product having a W-ferrite phase of said formulation;
• grinding the prefired product;
• shaping the ground product in the presence of a magnetic field;
• and
• sintering the shaped product at a temperature from 1160.degree. to 1250.degree. C. in a gas atmosphere having an oxygen concentration such that substantially no oxygen exchange occurs between the product and the gas atmosphere;
• wherein a quantity of iron of from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight is added to the prefired product and the iron containing prefired product is oxidized prior to sintering at a temperature of at most 1150.degree. C. so that the product to be sintered has a ferrous content corresponding to that of said W-ferrite phase.