Effects of Ni addition on liquid phase separation of Cu–Co alloys

Abstract

This article deals with the effects of Ni addition on liquid phase separation of Cu–Co alloys. The results reveal that Ni addition can partly restrain the liquid phase separation of Cu–Co alloys, resulting in a decrease of the volume fraction for the Co-rich particles from the liquid phase separation and in refined microstructures. The composition analysis indicates that Ni is dissolved in both the Co-rich and the Cu-rich phases, but the Ni content in the Co-rich phase is much higher than that in the Cu matrix. The decreasing amount of Co-rich particles from the liquid phase separation and the refined microstructure are responsible for the GMR improvement of Cu–Co alloys with Ni addition.