MOSSBAUER-SPECTROSCOPY EVIDENCE OF A SPINODAL MECHANISM FOR THE THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF FCC FECU

Mossbauer spectroscopy shows the existence of compositional fluctuatio ns, where different Fe environments coexist, during decomposition upon heat treatment of metastable f.c.c. FeCu solid solution. The presence of isolated Fe atoms in the Cu matrix, f.c.c. FerichCu, f.c.c. FeCuri ch and b.c.c. Fe has been detected in early decomposition stages. At l ater decomposition stages, low temperature Mossbauer spectroscopy indi cates the presence of a broad distribution of Curie temperatures, coex isting with isolated Fe atoms in the Cu matrix, f.c.c. Fe and b.c.c. F e. (C) 1998 Acta Metallugrica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.