Preparation of magnetic films using the laser induced forward transfer technique

In the study, laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) of magnetic materials such as α-Fe and Nd–Fe–B was performed to directly deposit on a substrate using a YAG laser. Usage of an optical shatter and Galvano scanner enabled us to obtain LIFT-made films with a dotted pattern. The effects of conditions of laser irradiation on the deposited films were investigated. There was a threshold energy density for obtaining α-Fe dot patterns with LIFT. Energy density of a laser beam enabled a larger size of deposited dot patterns under the same laser spot size. In LIFT-prepared α-Fe films, atmosphere during the deposition did not strongly affect the crystalline structure. On the other hand, the deterioration of coercivity and squareness in LIFT-made Nd–Fe–B films was observed under a low vacuum atmosphere of 10 Pa compared with those of LIFT-made ones in a high vacuum of 10−4Pa. It was also confirmed that Nd–Fe–B films with a coercivity of 290 kA m−1on paper could be deposited via the LIFT technique.