Va. Ivchenko et al., Atomic structure and magnetic properties of Cu80Co20 nanocrystalline compound produced by mechanical alloying, SURF SCI, 440(3), 1999, pp. 420-428
Direct observation of the atomic structure of the mechanically alloyed Cu80
Co20 compounds has been made using the field ion microscope (FIM). Phase co
mposition, defect structure and morphology of material on the atomic scale
have been determined. It has been established that the studied material is
chemically inhomogeneous, presenting a mixture of two main phases: heteroge
neous solid solution of cobalt in copper, and pure cobalt. Phase volume rat
ios, particle and cluster sizes have been estimated. An evaluation of Co co
ntent in Cu-Co solid solution has been made. The width of interfaces in thi
s mechanically alloyed material was revealed to be at least twice the width
of phase boundaries in metals and alloys. Superparamagnetism of the compou
nd studied at elevated temperatures and saturation magnetization deficit at
low temperatures are discussed on the basis of the above-mentioned structu
ral data. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.