Electrodeposition of iron-cobalt alloys from a dibasic ammonium citrate stabilized plating solution

• Author / Creator

  Crozier, Brendan Matthew

• Iron-cobalt alloys have been extensively studied as potential hard disk drive write head materials due to their potentially high saturation flux densities (~2.4T), low coercivities and ease of deposition. Iron-cobalt plating solutions have, however, been shown to have stability issues, necessitating that they be used at low pH or that a stabilizing agent be added to the solution.

  The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the stability of a dibasic ammonium citrate plating solution and to characterize the deposits which result from its use.

  The plating solutions are found to be less stable than previously claimed. The solutions are oxidized by dissolved oxygen, which leads to a valence change in the iron ions and eventually the formation of iron oxide/hydroxide precipitates. These effects are exacerbated by heating or the application of a voltage across the solution. Deposits plated from the solution are fine grained (174ºC and is highly textured. Its presence is detrimental to deposit coercivity.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Magnetic annealing
  • Thin films
  • Electrodeposition
  • Hard disk drive
  • Iron-cobalt
  • Write-head
  • Magnetic alloys

• Graduation date

  Fall 2009

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master's of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3R88G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.