Quasicrystalline phase formation in the mechanically alloyed Al–Cu–Fe system

Al–Cu–Fe samples were prepared by ball milling powders of elemental Al, Cu, Fe (first route) and of elemental Al mixed with previously mechanically alloyed Cu–Fe solid solution (second route). Phase and structure transformations by annealing the as-milled powders were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The influence of the thermodynamic driving forces, namely the heat of mixing, positive for the Cu–Fe system and negative for the Al–Fe and Al–Cu systems, was discussed and correlated to the sequence of phase transformations during heating.