In the present work structure, microstructure and magnetic behaviour of e-beamevaporated Pr-Fe thin filmswas investigated in as-deposited and rapid thermal annealed conditions. The films were deposited on Si < 100 > substrates at room temperature. Structural studies carried out employing X-ray diffraction indicated that the asdeposited films were completely amorphous in nature. Upon rapid thermal annealing, presence of Fe phase could be observed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. Field emission gun scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the presence of Fe nano-crystalline grains surrounded by amorphous Pr-Fe matrix with the number of nucleation sites increasing with increasing annealing temperature. Magnetization studies showed weak ferromagnetic behaviour for the as-deposited films whereas rapid thermal annealed films exhibited strong in-plane magnetic anisotropy owing to the presence of Fe nano-crystalline grains. Saturation magnetization estimated from the in-plane magnetization curves was found to increase with increasing annealing temperature up to 450 degrees C although with further increase in annealing temperature to 550 degrees C it decreased. A minimum coercivity of about 1.6 kA/mwas observed for the Pr-Fe film annealed at 450 degrees C. Magnetostriction measurements indicated increase in magnetostriction with increasing annealing temperature up to 450 degrees C. A maximum magnetostriction of about 100 mu-strains was achieved for the film annealed at 450 degrees C. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.