1990 Volume 54 Issue 11 Pages 1270-1278
Magnetic and structural properties of microcrystalline Co-M-C (M: IVA-VIA) alloy films prepared by annealing sputter-deposited amorphous films were investigated. These new alloys were composed of Co-rich crystallites with grain diameters of several nanometers and M carbides. Except for Co-Cr-C films, these fine grain structures led to good soft magnetic properties. The low coercive force less than 60 A/m was maintained even after annealing at 973 K because of the suppression of grain growth by finely dispersed carbide particles. In addition, the highest saturation flux density of 1.6 T was obtained for Co-Zr-C and Co-Hf-C films. Although magnetostrictions of the films were negative for the most composition range, zero magnetostriction could be achieved by addition of Fe, Ni, Mn or Pd which stabilizes the fcc phase of Co. These new microcrystalline films are suitable for use in magnetic heads fabricated by the glass bonding process.
