IrMn pinned spin valve (SV) films with stacks of Ta/NiFe/IrMn/CoFe/Cu/CoFe/NiFe/Ta were prepared by dc sputtering onto thermally oxidized Si (111) substrates at room temperature under a magnetic field of about 100 Oe. The annealing cycle number and temperature dependence of exchange coupling field (H$_{ex}$), magnetoresistance (MR) ratio, and coercivity (H$_{c}$) were investigated. By optimizing the process of deposition and post thermal annealing condition, we obtained the IrMn based SV films with MR ratio of 3.6%, H$_{ex}$ of 1180 Oe for the pinned layer. The H$_{ex}$ is stabilized after the second annealing cycle and it is thought that this SV reveals high thermal stability. The H$_{ex}$ maintained its strength of 600 Oe in operation up to 24$0^{circ}C$ and decreased monotonically to zero at 27$0^{circ}C$.>.</TEX>.