Study of deposition and post-oxidation of d.c. magnetron sputtered W/Fe bilayers

W/Fe bilayer metallic coatings are deposited by d.c. magnetron sputtering on an Fe substrate. Correlation between the deposition parameters and the film characteristics are investigated. The coatings exhibit small grain sizes and dense structure for high target power and low argon pressure, leading to well adhesive films. Bilayer post oxidation process is preformed in order to form Fe3O4 at the surface (W/Fe3O4). The ability of the Fe layer to be oxidised is also studied depending on the bilayer deposition parameters.