1) Ferrites are magnetic ceramic materials that have a wide variety of applications from microwave to radio frequencies due to their properties like high resistivity and permeability.
2) They are classified based on their crystal structure into spinel, garnet, ortho, and hexagonal ferrites. Soft ferrites are used in transformers while hard ferrites are used in permanent magnets.
3) Ferrites are synthesized using methods like solid state reaction, sol-gel, and precipitation. Their properties can be modified by controlling synthesis parameters.
4) Major applications of ferrites include transformers, inductors, antennas, recording heads, and magnetic shielding due to their advantages over metals.