The evolution of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of rapidly quenched Cu85Co15
and Cu80Co20 ribbons has been studied on samples after selected thermal tr
eatment. The observed changes were correlated with the results from structu
ral analysis by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM
) and electron diffraction analyses. The results indicate spinodal decompos
iton of the supersaturated Cu-Co alloy with Co precipitating into distinct
Co-ggregates.