Abstract
Various alloys have shown to be promising materials in terms of manipulating magnetic properties by controlling their microstructure. Despite extensive research activities on such nano-scale magnetic materials for several decades now, the relationship between the evolution of the microstructure and its magnetic properties still remains to be fully explored. [1–4]. In this study, we investigate a spinodally decomposed CuNiFe alloy, using a wide variety of modern (S)TEM methods such as dark-field imaging, EDX spectroscopy and differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging. The specimen under investigation was solution treated and a subsequent heat treatment at 625°C for 10 hours leads to a spinodal decomposition of the alloy [3,5]. EDX elemental maps reveal the characteristic stripe/plate like Ni-rich phase embedded in a Cu-rich matrix [1,2]. Those plates are growing along the [100] directions of the crystal which is shown in figure 1 a). The EDX analysis reveals a chemical composition of 54 at% Ni, 27 at% Fe and 19 at% Cu for the Ni-rich phase which, is similar to the findings of Kobayashi et al [4]. To investigate the magnetic structure, LM-STEM DPC with a switched off objective lens was performed to ensure a nearly field-free environment. In DPC, the deflection of the electron beam due to the interaction with the magnetic field of the specimen is measured with a 4-quadrant annular detector. An in-plane magnetic induction map is shown in figure 1 b), in which the colour represents a certain direction of the magnetic field. The induction map displays a complicated pattern of 90° and 180° domains. Furthermore, these domains exhibit in-plane field vectors not parallel to the [100] directions. Therefore, the DPC findings suggest other directions, such as [111], to be the magnetic easy ones.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 22 |
Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Event | 11th ASEM Workshop - via Zoom, Linz, Austria Duration: 20 May 2021 → 21 May 2021 https://asem.at/events/11th-asem-workshop/ |
Conference
Conference | 11th ASEM Workshop |
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Abbreviated title | 11th ASEM Workshop |
Country/Territory | Austria |
City | Linz |
Period | 20/05/21 → 21/05/21 |
Internet address |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
Fields of Expertise
- Advanced Materials Science
Treatment code (Nähere Zuordnung)
- Basic - Fundamental (Grundlagenforschung)