Synthesis and characterization of amorphous metallic alloy thin films for MEMS applications Conference

Sambandam, SN, Bhansali, S, Bhethanabotla, VR. (2003). Synthesis and characterization of amorphous metallic alloy thin films for MEMS applications . 806 177-182. 10.1557/proc-806-mm8.1

cited authors

  • Sambandam, SN; Bhansali, S; Bhethanabotla, VR

abstract

  • Microstructures of multi-component amorphous metallic glass alloys are becoming increasingly important due to their excellent mechanical properties and low coefficient of friction. In this work, thin films of Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be have been deposited by DC magnetron sputtering in view of exploring their potential technological applications in fields such as Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Their structure, composition, surface morphology, mechanical properties viz., hardness and Young's modulus were analyzed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Nanoindentation. Influence of the deposition parameters of sputtering pressure and power upon the composition and surface morphology of these films has been evidenced by SEM, and AFM analysis, showing that such a process yields very smooth films with target composition at low sputtering pressures. These studies are useful in understanding the multicomponent sputtering process.

publication date

  • January 1, 2003

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 177

end page

  • 182

volume

  • 806