Nanostructural phases and giant magnetoresistance in Cu–Co alloys

Abstract The relation of giant magnetoresistance and nanoscopic segregated phases in Cu 90 Co 10 melt-spun ribbons is investigated using several techniques. The magnetoresistance, the resistivity and the magnetization increase with isochronous anneals. At higher temperatures an irreversible region is observed where the resistivity decreases and the magnetoresistance has a maximum. Lamellar microstructures of parallel nanostripes are seen with transmission electron microscopy in the structural grains. We investigate these nanophases using a nonlinear Cahn–Hilliard diffusion equation.