Crystallographic and magnetic behavior in crystallization process of FeTaC film

Abstract

We have studied the cristallographic and magnetic behavior of amorphous Fe79Ta10C11 films during the crystallization process. The crystallization process starts with the precipitation of Ta or TaC1-x. The saturation magnetizations of the film and Fe grain size increase at the same time. The increase in saturation magnetization is completed at ∼480°C. Fe and Ta phase separation seem to be completed at this temperature. The anomalous state appears between 480 and 530°C, in which good soft magnetic properties do not appear at room temperature, although the Fe grain size is small enough. The source of this phenomenon is the weak intergranular ferromagnetic coupling caused by the formation of a magnetic material with a low Curie point at the Fe grain boundary. © 1996 IEEE.