Amorphous iron-tungsten-carbon film Fe79W21Cx is prepared by direct current electroplating. Annealing in hydrogen atmosphere at temperature higher than 400degreesC results in the crystallization of the film. Diffraction experiments identify the crystals of alpha-Fe, Fe2W and Fe6W6C. Differential thermal analysis indicates two crystallization temperatures at about 350 and 620degreesC. Electron diffraction shows that alpha-Fe crystallites appear after annealing at 400degreesC, Fe2W at 700degreesC and Fe6W6C at 800degreesC. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.