Structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed Cu-Fe-Co solid solution

Structural and magnetic property changes during mechanical alloying of Fe, Co, and Cu have been studied by using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Mossbauer experiment and magnetometry. Supersaturated fee solid solutions of Cu50Fe50-xCox (x = 0, 10, 20, 40) and Cu80Fe20-yCoy (y = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) have been prepared by mechanical alloying process starting from elemental components. Magnetization of Cu50Fe50-xCox solid solution can be described mainly by ferromagnetism even though paramagnetic phase of about 12% coexists in the alloy. The variations in magnetization with Co content in supersaturated Cu50Fe50-xCox and Cu80Fe20-yCoy solid solutions were similar to the Slater-Pauling curve, indicating presence of Fe-Co atomic clusters. The magnetization behaviour of the supersaturated solid solutions showed a mixture of superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic behaviour.