Dislocation climb and low-temperature plasticity of an Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal

Abstract

Dislocations and phason faults have been studied by transmission electron microscopy in an Al-Pd-Mn sample deformed at 300°C under a high pressure. All dislocation movements have occurred by climb, in contrast with the usual interpretations of dislocation motion in quasicrystals. Several modes of dissociation and decomposition of dislocations have been observed, allowing for estimations of phason fault and antiphase-boundary energies. Work softening is tentatively explained in terms of a varying chemical stress.