Recent interest in the literature on ternary compounds of the AlCuFe type has been prompted by the discovery of stable quasicrystalline phases in these type of alloys (1) . Therefore, different investigationes have been carried out in the past, related with the structural characteristics and also the mechanical properties of these compounds (2) . It is interesting to point out that very few studies have been carried out on the structural characteristics of the phases which commonly coexist with the icosahedral phase in this ternary alloy (3) . In this investigation an assessment of the chemical and structural properties of the phases obtained in alloys of AlCuFe is carried out.

Ternary alloys with approximately 20 different compositions have been prepared. The compositional ranges were: Al(60-65%at), Cu(20-25%at) and Fe(10-15%at). The preparation of the alloys used two different casting process; a gravity chill casting technique and also the spin wheel casting method. These casting techniques were able to provide different cooling velocities in the final ingots or metallic strips.