Formation of Al70Cu20Fe10 icosahedral quasicrystal by mechanically alloyed method

The structural evolutions of the mechanically alloyed ternary Al70Cu20Fe10 powders with the milling time and the annealing treatment have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (XAFS) techniques. Results show that an Al2Cu compound forms with short-time milling, while a Cu9Al4 compound forms with long-time milling. Fe can react with Al–Cu alloy by annealing treatment. Al7Cu2Fe compound with tetragonal structure or Al (Cu, Fe) solid solution with cubic structure may form at lower temperature, while a quasicrystal phase of Al65Cu20Fe15 alloy may form at higher temperature.