Structure and some magnetic properties of thin films prepared from Fe73.5M1Nb3Si13.5B9 (M:Ag,Cu,Pd,Pt) alloys

Thin films of Fe-(M-Nb)-Si-B alloys have been prepared by the flash evaporation method. Thermal treatment has been used which should lead to generation of the α-FeSi ultrafine phase. Structural observations showed that the process of film crystallization depends rather on the initial state of the as-deposited films than on the sort of the alloy (M). Either amorphous or crystalline structure was observed in the as-deposited samples which crystallized upon annealing in two different ways. A large amount of the ultrafine phase crystallized in the film which was amorphous when as-deposited and subsequently annealed in optimum conditions. However, a fully homogeneous α-FeSi ultrafine structure throughout the studied films has never been obtained. Magnetic saturation induction and extraordinary Hall coefficient have been determined by Hall effect measurements