Current density effect on magnetic properties of nanocrystalline electroplated Ni80Fe20/Cu composite wires

The effect of the plating current density in nanocrystalline electrodeposition of permalloy on the crystal grain size and consequently on the soft magnetic properties of the deposited layer of Ni₈₀Fe₂₀/Cu composite wire was investigated. X-ray diffraction was used to measure the crystal grain sizes. Transmission electron microscopy was used to verify the grain size values calculated using Scherrer´s formula. The coercivity of the deposited Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ increased while the magneto-impedance effect ratio of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀/Cu wire decreased for increasing current density in the low current density range (0.6 - 2 A/dm²). Opposite trends for these soft magnetic properties were observed in the high current density range (2 8 A/dm²).