The effect of Tb and Gd composition on the corrosion resistance of sputtered GdTbFeCo thin films
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0202 (USA)
A series of Gd{sub {ital x}}Tb{sub {ital y}}(Fe{sub 92}Co{sub 8}){sub 100-{ital x}-{ital y}} alloy thin films (about 200 nm in thickness) on glass substrates was prepared by dc magnetron sputtering using composite targets of pure Fe, Tb, Gd, and Co. Film composition was changed by varying the area percent of Tb and Gd in the target from 0% to 24%. In order to study the individual and combined effects of Gd and Tb, alloys of GdFeCo, TbFeCo, and GdTbFeCo were compared to each other and to an Fe{sub 92}Co{sub 8} alloy. These comparisons were made on the basis of standard electrochemical tests, including anodic polarization as well as measurement of open circuit potentials and potential decay, in deaerated 0.15-{ital M} NaH{sub 2}PO{sub 4} buffer solution ({ital p}H=4) at 25 {degree}C. Results indicate that additions of Gd and Tb decrease the corrosion current of the Fe{sub 92}Co{sub 8} alloy by a factor of 10 or more. Both Gd and Tb show very similar effects on the corrosion behavior of FeCo. Results suggest that a total of about 24% Gd and/or Tb may represent an optimum level for improving the corrosion resistance of GdTbFeCo magneto-optical thin films.
- OSTI ID:
- 6949525
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 67:9; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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