An in situ electron microscope investigation of the icosahedral-to-decagonal quasicrystalline transformation in Al-20 at.% Mn

Abstract

The solid-state transformation behaviour of the icosahedral phase in rapidly solidified Al-20 at.% Mn has been investigated by in situ heating experiments in the transmission electron microscope. As-rapidly-solidified Al-20 at.% Mn consists mainly of a dendritic icosahedral phase, with a small amount of interdendritic f.c.c. α-Al. During subsequent heat treatment at temperatures below about 500°C, the dendritic icosahedral phase grows and consumes the interdendritic α-Al. At about 500°C the decagonal phase nucleates near icosahedral dendrite and grain boundaries and then grows into the icosahedral matrix by lateral motion of ledges 10–20 nm high across facet planes normal to the twofold symmetry axes. At about 600°C the decagonal phase transforms into a crystalline phase. The present study suggests that solid-state decomposition of the icosahedral phase is the mechanism of decagonal phase formation in as-rapidly-solidified Al-Mn alloys.