Microstructure, magnetic and transport properties of magnetoresistive CuFeNi ( x = 5, 10 and 15 at.%) ribbons.

Microstructure, magnetic and transport properties of magnetoresistive CuFeNi ( x = 5, 10 and 15 at.%) melt-spun ribbons were studied for the as-spun and annealed for 2 h at 400 to 600 °C samples. The microstructure was characterised by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy filtered transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectrometry (MS). Magnetic and transport measurements such as magnetization, zero field cooled/field cooled and giant magnetoresistance (GMR) measurements at 5 and 300 K were performed. The aim of this work is to study the influence of the microstructure of as-spun and annealed ribbons on magnetic and transport properties at 5 and 300 K. We have precisely determined the nature of precipitation of nanoparticles, the relative proportion and the magnetic properties of each phase in such a system using MS at both temperatures. We report the conclusive observation of the magnetic behaviour of each phase which was correlated to the structural data to explain the GMR properties that are observed. The influence of magnetic interactions between nanoparticles on magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of these ribbons was determined. We have clearly shown the existence and the nature of the magnetic interactions that reduce the GMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]