Crystallization Behaviour and Magnetic Properties of Magnetostrictive TbDyFe Films

Abstract

Amorphous magnetostrictive films of the composition (Tb0.27Dy0.73)0.3Fe0.7 have been prepared by ion-beam sputtering. The films have been subjected to a subsequent heat treatment for 10 min at various temperatures. Annealing temperatures to 550 °C result in a significant enhancement of the magnetostriction while the microstructure of the films remains amorphous. For annealing temperatures in the range of 600 to 800 °C nano- and microcrystalline samples have been obtained. Films with a grain size around 10 nm exhibit an in-plane magnetostriction up to λ∥ = 860 × 10—6 at 1 T with a minimum coercivity of μ0H∥c = 0.12 T.