XRD and EXAFS investigation of the decomposition of Co-Cu solid solution prepared by melt spining

High solid-solubility Co₁₅Cu₈₅ alloys were prepared by melt spining and then submitted to isothermal and anisothermal annealing to obtain granular alloys. The synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction patterns and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra were measured to investigate the decomposition of supersaturated solid solution upon annealing. Experimental results indicated the precipitation of ultrafine Co-rich particles occurred at about 500°C and the annealing had a great influence on the middle-range order of Co atoms. While the fitted EXAFS spectra showed that the interfaces of Co precipitates seem to be enriched with vacancy-type defects, leading to distorted interfaces.