Phase separation and magnetic properties of Nd60Fe30Al10 thin films

摘要

In this letter we report results of the investigation of Nd60Fe30Al10 thin films prepared by electron-beam evaporation and studied by analytical transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and magnetometry. Structural and magnetic characterizations show the existence of an amorphous matrix, which embeds a second glassy phase. The observed microstructure confirms the tendency of the Nd60Fe30Al10 system to show phase separation and to form an intrinsic composite as previously reported for slow-cooled bulk samples of the same composition. The magnetic properties of the thin films prepared with high cooling rate are discussed, taking into account magnetic pinning effects of the main magnetic phase. (C) American Institute of Physics.