Magnetic, corrosion, and surface properties of Ni-Fe-Cr thin films

Films in the Ni-Fe-Cr ternary system were evaporated and examined with regard to magnetic properties, resistance to atmospheric corrosion, and surface chemistry. It was found that films with relatively high magnetization and low coercive force could be made which at the same time exhibited good corrosion resistance. The corrosion occurred predominately by pitting for the low chromium concentration films. The surface chemistry was studied by Auger and XPS techniques which indicated that addition of Cr to Ni-Fe caused replacement of a nonpassivating iron-rich oxide surface layer by a passivating Cr-rich oxide layer.