• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2000

Amorphous FeCoSiB films with high saturation magnetostriction and excellent soft magnetic properties have been studied to evaluate their strain sensitivity. Films were subjected to a strain by bending of their substrates, which caused a change in the magnetic anisotropy of films via magnetoelastic coupling. Films were exhibited a figure of merit $F=({\Delta}{\mu}/{\mu})/{\varepsilon}$ (change in film permeability $\mu$ per unit strain $\varepsilon$) of $1.2{\times}10^5$, which is comparable with that of amorphous ribbons. To make a study of application of magnetostrictive films as strain sensor elements, we have prepared a micro-patterned film by means of the photolithography and ion milling processes. Impedance change in the patterned films, when strain was applied, was measured over the frequency range from 1 MHz to 1 GHz. Reflecting a large value of figure of merit F, a variation of 46% impedance of films was shown at 100 MHz frequency when a strain of $300{\times}10^{-6}$ was applied.