Thermally stimulated crystalline phase transformations in metastable Fe–Cr alloy films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 347; no. 1; pp. 171 - 177
• Main Authors: Levin, A.A, Meyer, D.C, Gorbunov, A, Tselev, A, Pompe, W, Paufler, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 16.12.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystal structure; Exact sciences and technology; Laser deposition; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Phase transition; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; Thin films; Transition metal compounds; Thin films; Transition metal compounds; Crystal structure; Phase transition; Crystalline phase; Cubic lattices; Annealing; Inorganic compounds; Phase composition; Metastable phases; Phase transformations; Composition effect; Pulsed laser deposition; Iron alloys; Chromium alloys; Experimental study; Binary alloys; Transition element alloys
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-8388(02)00773-9

Thermally induced crystalline phase formation of metastable Fe–Cr alloy films with different Cr-content (34.5, 43.5 and 48.5 at.% Cr) and thickness of 100 nm prepared by cross-beam pulsed laser deposition was examined by wide angle X-ray scattering. Therefore the annealing temperature was increased stepwise up to 1100 °C, the duration of the treatment per step was 90 min. Through a number of intermediate metastable crystalline phases, above 550 °C the phase composition did not change until the onset of reaction with Si/SiO 2 substrate at ∼900 °C. Equilibrium σ-FeCr is formed in all samples. In addition, body-centered cubic (b.c.c.) and tetragonally distorted b.c.c. Fe–Cr phases are formed in a film with nearly equiatomic composition. Reactions with substrate result in formation of Fe- and Cr-silicides.