Melt-spun Cu80Co10Fe10 ribbons are shown to exhibit a nanogranular structur
e with magnetic alpha-Fe(Co) grains segregated from the Cu-rich matrix afte
r appropriate annealing. The Cu matrix purification as well as the magnetic
properties of the alpha-Fe(Co) grains existing in a range of sizes are stu
died using X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectrometry and magnetic measureme
nts. There is an optimum annealing for obtaining a high magnetoresistive ef
fect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.