On the effect of nanocrystallization and disorder on the magnetic properties of Cu-rich, FeMnCu alloys.

We report on the temperature dependencies of the Mössbauer spectra and the AC magnetic susceptibility measured in Cu-rich, FeMnCu samples prepared by mechanically alloying, using, on the one side, Cu and prealloyed FeMn powders and, on the other, pure element Cu, Mn, and Fe powders. From the correlation of the Mössbauer and susceptibility data we conclude about the basic characteristics of the phase distributions present in the different studied samples. Those distributions are a consequence of both the nanostructure induced upon milling and of the different signs of the Mn/Cu (negative) and Fe/Cu (positive) enthalpies of mixing. The proposed phase distributions are significantly different in the samples prepared from different precursors and this fact is analyzed in terms of the disproportion of the precursor FeMn alloy and in those of the favoured Mn/Cu interdiffusion and the hindered Fe/Cu one.