Texture, strain and alloying in sputtered granular magnetic films

An extensive characterization of the microstructure of a large variety of C oFe-Ag(Cu) and CoFeCu granular alloys prepared by r.f. sputtering is presen ted. The resulting microstructure is described in terms of the ferromagneti c concentration, from the low concentration limit (x similar to 0.10 by vol ume) to values near the volume percolation threshold (x(th) = 0.50-0.55). T he influence of the annealing procedure on the sample texture, particle siz e, crystal structure and strains, substrate-film stress and CoFe dilution i n the matrix, among others, is also studied. This work is relevant to the c omplex magnetic and magnetotransport properties of granular alloys and thei r subtle and crucial dependence on the microstructure. (C) 1999 Acta Metall urgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.