Structural Evolution of Ag-Co and Ag-Ni Alloys Studied by Anomalous Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

The structural evolution of co-sputtered Ag-20 (and 35) at.% Co and Ag-20 (and 35) at.% Ni was studied by anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering in the as-deposited state and after different anneals for 10 min at 573, 623 and 723 K. Anomalous scattering was used to separate the part of the scattering signal due to the transition metal particles from the signal of other heterogeneities. Strong segregation, involving about two-thirds of the Co (or Ni) atoms, already exists for the as-deposited state. After a 573 K anneal, the phases (Ag matrix and Co or Ni well defined particles) have almost reached equilibrium, i.e. complete immiscibility. Most of the magnetic particles are three dimensional with an average radius of 5-25 Å and the average distance between the particles varies from 17 to 110 Å, depending on the magnetic element and its concentration, and on the annealing conditions. The size distribution does not correspond to that of usual coarsening, but becomes broader after extended annealing. This is probably due to heterogeneous precipitation at grain boundaries of the Ag matrix.