The magnetostriction effect is a unique phenomenon observed in magnetic materials due to applied stress. The
permeability μ of the magnetic material increases or decreases depending on the sign of the magnetostriction
coefficient λ based on the direction of the applied stress. For example, nickel has a negative λ, whereas iron has
a positive λ for the same tensile (+) or compressive (-) stresses. However, the magnetostriction effect is reported
to disturb the functionality of some spintronic applications, such as magnetic sensors and actuators, under the
influence of an external magnetic field. Therefore, suppression of the magnetostriction effect is a challenge in
developing flexible spintronic devices. In this study, the magnetostriction effect of the NixFe1-x thin films was
investigated under different stress conditions. The composition of the thin film was manipulated by varying the
deposition thickness of nickel and Ni8Fe2 targets using a co-sputtering system. Magnetization reversal behaviors
of the NixFe1-x thin films were observed under the influence of an external magnetic field by using a vibrating
sample magnetometer (VSM), before and after the application of bending stress. The negative
magnetostriction effect of nickel was decreased by increasing the iron composition in the thin film, owing to the
opposite sign of the magnetostriction coefficient. Finally, an extremely low magnetostriction was achieved at x =
0.8. The results of this study suggest that the magnetostriction effect can be controlled by varying the composition
of the thin films and a sufficiently small magnetostriction effect can be observed at the permalloy composition
between nickel and iron.