Electrodeposits of tin-iron (Sn-Fe) are obtained from a gluconate based electrolyte using a constant current technique. The effects of plating parameters such as current density, deposition time, deposition temperature and pH were examined in relation to phase composition, structure and quality of deposit. The magnetic anisotropy of the alloy deposits was investigated mainly by Fe-57 and Sn-119 conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS), transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Fe-57 and Sn-119 CEMS spectra and XRD show that the dominant phases of the deposits are tetragonal FeSn2 or amorphous Fe-Sn. It was found that the relative area of the 2nd and 5th lines of the sextets representing the magnetic iron containing phases decreases with increasing current density. However no essential change in the magnetic anisotropy could be found with change of the plating time or temperature. The Sn-119 spectra also revealed the presence of small amounts of beta-Sn besides the main phases of the Sn-Fe binary deposits. It was concluded that a range of metallic good quality amorphous Sn-Fe alloys can be obtained using specific electrodeposition conditions consisting of a bath metal ratio of Sn:Fe of 1:3, 60 degrees C and a pH range of 5.0-7.0. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.