Control of crystallographic and magnetic texture in dc-magnetron sputtered Co–Cr on flexible PET substrate

• Published in: Thin solid films 1998-04, Vol.317 (1), p.290-293
• Main Authors: te Lintelo, Hans, Lippens, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Crystallographic; Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of monolayers and thin films; Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Magnetization curves, hysteresis, Barkhausen and related effects; Magnetization curves, magnetization reversal, hysteresis, barkhausen and related effects; Magnetron sputtering; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Substrate; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/S0040-6090(97)00540-3

The paper reports on hard-magnetic thin films on flexible PET substrates. The total coating stack is deposited in a roll-coater by dc-magnetron sputtering and includes a Cr underlayer, a Co–Cr magnetic layer, and an SiO 2 wear-resistant layer on top. The influence of various deposition parameters on crystallographic and magnetic properties has been investigated. The magnetic anisotropy direction in Co–Cr can be changed from perpendicular to in-plane by applying a (very thin) Cr underlayer. This in-plane anisotropy is directed in the machine direction, probably due to an anisotropic magnetostriction. No clear relation between coercivity and crystallinity or grain size is observed. The coercivity is mainly influenced by film thickness and substrate temperature. For Co–Cr without Cr underlayer, an increasing temperature results in increased coercivity and more distinct grains. For Co–Cr with Cr underlayer, an increasing temperature results in decreased coercivity and less distinct grains.