Magnetic properties of electrodeposited Co-W thin films

Thin films of Co-W, 300-500 Å thick, were electrodeposited at various compositions under a wide range of plating conditions. The saturation magnetization, coercivity, and squareness ratio of the films were derived from the parallel (in-plane) and perpendicular hysteresis loops, measured by using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic properties of the films are strongly related to their microstructure. The nonmagnetic alloying element (W) affects the saturation magnetization via the dilution mechanism. The in-plane coercivity, which increases with increasing content of the hexagonal phase and with decreasing degree of [0001]h texture, is in the range of 100-600 Oe for the crystalline deposits and decreases to a few oersteds for amorphous deposits. The in-plane squareness ratio increases with the fcc or amorphous phase content and with decreasing degree of [0001]h texture. The magnetic measurements suggest that films that appeared amorphous according to their electron diffraction patterns are actually microcrystalline or at least partially crystallized.