Nanometer scale tomographic investigation of fine scale precipitates in a CuFeNi granular system by 3D FIM

The microstructure of Cu80Fe10Ni10 (at.%) granular ribbons was investigated by means of three-dimensional field ion microscopy (3D FIM). This ribbon is composed of magnetic precipitates embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix. The magnetic precipitates have a diameter smaller than 5 nm in the as-spun state and are coherent with the matrix. No accurate characterization of such a microstructure has been performed so far. A tomographic characterization of the microstructure of melt spun and annealed Cu80Fe10Ni10 ribbon was achieved with 3D FIM at the atomic scale. A precise determination of the size distribution, number density, and distance between the precipitates was carried out. The mean diameter for the precipitates is 4 nm in the as-spun state. After 2 h at 350 degrees C, there is an increase of the size of the precipitates, while after 2 h at 400 degrees C the mean diameter of the precipitates decreases. Those data were used as inputs in models that describe the magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of this alloy.