• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2011

Bilayers of soft NiFe (150 nm-420 nm) on hard Ni (150 nm) were prepared by electrodeposition. The process of magnetization reversal in the NiFe/Ni bilayers was then investigated. The hysteresis loop generated by a magnetization reversal of soft NiFe under a positive saturation state of a hard Ni layer shows a shift along the negative field axis, which is clear evidence for the exchange spring effect in the NiFe/Ni bilayers. The dependence of the coercive field $H_c$ and exchange bias field Hex on the thickness of the NiFe layer was also investigated. As the NiFe thickness increases from 150 nm to 420 nm, both $H_c$ and $H_{ex}$ decrease rapidly from $H_c$= 51.7 Oe and $H_{ex}$ = 12.2 Oe, and saturate to $H_c$ = 5.8 Oe and $H_{ex}$ = 3.5 Oe.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 1998

Hertzian crack suppression phenomena and relatively high damage tolerance were investigated in hard/soft silicon nitride ($Si_3N_4$) bilayers. Coarse $\alpha}-Si_3N_4$ powder was wsed for the hard coating layer and fine $\alpha}-Si_3N_4$ powder was used for the soft substrate layer. The two layers were designed with a strong interface. Hertzian indentation was used to investigate contact fracture and damage tolerance property. Hertzian crack suppression has occurred with increasing applied load and decreasing coating thickness. The crack suppression contributed strength improvement, especially in the bilayers with thinner coatings. Ultimately, the combination of hard coating with soft but tough underlayer improved the damage tolerance of brittle $Si_3N_4$ ceramics.