Amorphization in the (FeCu)Zr system by mechanical alloying

(Fe0.5Cu0.5)(100-x)Zr-x (7 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 17) alloys have been synthesized by high-energy hall milling of elemental powders. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the alloys exhibit a face centered cubic structure with an average crystallite size around 6 nm for x < 13, whereas for higher Zr content the x-ray patterns correspond to that of amorphous alloys. Magnetic characterization points out that the alloys are ferromagnetic with a Curie point between 240 and 295 K, depending on the composition and structure of the respective alloys.