On the magnetic nanostructure of a Co–Cu alloy processed by high-pressure torsion

In this study, a preparation route of Co-Cu alloys with soft magnetic properties by high-pressure torsion deformation is introduced. Nanocrystalline, supersaturated single-phase microstructures are obtained after alloys, which prepared from an initial powder mixture Co-contents above 70 wt.%. Isochronal annealing treatments up to 400{\deg}C further reveal remarkable microstructural stability. Only at 600{\deg}C, the phase decomposes into two fcc-phases. The coercivity, measured SQUID as function temperature, remains significantly below value for bulk-Co in all states investigated. order understand detail, quantitative analysis microstructure carried out force microscopy and correlated observed changes coercivity. Our results show that rising coercivity can be explained hardening effect occurring context spinodal decomposition.