Accelerated mechanical alloying of mutually insoluble metals: Co-Cu system

We propose a new method for accelerating the process of mechanical alloying in the Co-Cu system possessing positive enthalpy of mixing and exhibiting no mutual solubility of components under equilibrium conditions. For this purpose, highly disperse powders of composite particles representing a Co-P amorphous alloy core covered with a nanocrystalline copper shell were prepared by chemical deposition. These composite powders were mechanically alloyed by processing in a ball mill. Investigation of the atomic structure and magnetic properties of the composite powders upon milling showed that the formation of supersaturated Co-Cu solid solutions under such conditions requires a much shorter milling time as compared to that for the conventional mechanical alloying processes. (C) 2004 MAIK "Nauka / Interperiodica".