Tensile properties of ferromagnetic nanofilms on stretchable substrates: Links between multi-cracking and magnetic properties

Abstract

The influence of multi-cracking on the magnetic response of more (Co) or less (Ni78Fe22) magnetostrictive ferromagnetic nanofilms on flexible substrates has been studied by combining tensile tests with in situ magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry measurements, up to large strain (20%). The results show that the variations of the magnetic features are more significant in the elastic domain (before cracking), while they are slightly affected in the multi-cracking regime, linked to the fact that the stresses evolve relatively little in this regime. This results in a lesser modification of the magnetization curves of Ni78Fe22, which also means weak magnetostatic (dipolar) effects despite a very high crack density. This is very promising for the applicability of magnetic films in highly curved or stretched systems, especially using weakly magnetostrictive materials.