Effect of mechanical processing on giant magnetoresistance in melt-spun Co-Cu ribbons

We have investigated the effect of uniaxial deformation on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect in melt-spun Co-Cu ribbons. Postprecipitation deformation does not affect the Co particles, but the mechanical processing increases the structural disorder and the resistivity; thus the GMR effect is degraded. Deforming the metastable alloy prior to precipitation of the Co particles possibly affects the particle nucleation process. As a result, the low-field sensitivity of the GMR effect increases slightly. [S0021-8979(97)09221-9].