Effect of short-duration annealing on the exchange bias in IrMn/Co films

► We studied modifications of the exchange bias (EB) parameters due to rapid anneal of IrMn/Co films. ► Broad maxima were observed in the EB field versus annealing temperature dependencies at ≈200°C. ► The EB field decreases after rapid anneal using temperatures between 200 and 300 °C. ► An improvement in the IrMn crystallinity or grain growth could account, in part, for this decrease. ► This mechanism for the EB decrease might be considered as adding to that of IrMn/Co interdiffusion.