SOFT MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF FeTaNC NANOCRYSTALLINE FILMS

Soft magnetic properties and microstructural evolution of FeTaNC films were investigated, and compared with FeTaN and FeTaC films. Effects of substrate species (glass vs. $CaTiO_3$) on the magnetic properties were also investigated. Co-addition of N and C significantly enhance the grain refinments and magnetism, compared with N or C addition only. Good soft magnetic characteristics of coercivity of 0.17 Oe, permeability of 4000 (5MHz), and saturation flux density of 17 kG can be obtained in the FeTaNC in the relatively wide process windows. While these values appears to be similar to those of FeTaN on glass substrate, most distinctive difference between FeTaNC and FeTaN(or C) is in the effects of substrate. Whereas FeTaNC films show good magnetic characteristics for both glass and $CaTiO_3$ substrates, FeTaN(or C) films show significant degradation on the $CaTiO_3$ substrate.