Laser vaporization of an icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn sample with detection by time-of-flight mass spectrometry is used to probe metal clusters made from the alloy. After sample vaporization, clusters form by gas aggregation and may contain several to hundreds of atoms. Multi-photon ionization/fragmentation of these clusters yields mass spectra showing many cluster sizes with enhanced intensity. Clusters are identified at masses near those of pseudo- Mackay and Bergman clusters; however, these clusters do not appear special relative to neighboring clusters. Results of this study and its relationship to the proposed cluster structures in quasicrystalline materials are discussed.

The mechanism by which dislocations move in the icosahedral quasicrystalline structure, i.e., glide or climb, is still an open question. In order to check whether pure dislocation glide occurs in this quasi-periodic structure, low temperature deformation tests have been performed under confining pressure conditions. These experimental techniques, which superimpose a shear stress on an isostatic component, enable the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature to be shifted to temperatures at which diffusion processes can be assumed to be negligible. Such techniques have been applied to deform plastically AlCuFe poly-quasicrystals at low and intermediate temperatures, using both gas and solid-confining media. Mechanical data as well as microstructural observations associated with this low temperature deformation range are reported. The first results provide new insights into the deformation mechanisms that control plasticity in the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase.

Ga-Mn decagonal quasicrystals (DQC), as well as a Ga-Mn approximant and a normal crystal in GaAs are investigated by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy dispersive X- ray spectroscopy (EDS) combined with Z-contrast imaging. Plasmon peak positions (Ep), full- width-half-maxima (FWHM) and Mn L3/L2ratios of these three phases are derived from their low-loss spectra and core-loss spectra respectively. Mn, Ga and As distributions in ion implanted GaAs layers are characterized by EDS at line-scan mode. These results show that the Ga-Mn DQC has higher Ep and FWHMs than those of its normal crystal counterpart, as well as all other reported QCs. The much larger L3/L2 intensity ratio of the Ga-Mn DQC over that of the Al-Mn icosahedral quasicrystals (IQC) may suggest Mn atoms in the Ga-Mn DQC have much larger local magnetic moments.

Quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe powders were used as a novel filler material in poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS). These polymer/quasicrystal composites showed useful properties that may be beneficially exploited in applications such as dry bearings and composite gears. Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline filler significantly improved wear resistance to volume loss in polymer-based composites. In addition to improving the composite wear resistance, the Al-Cu-Fe filler showed low abrasion to the 52100 chrome steel counterface. Furthermore, mechanical testing results showed a two-fold increase in the storage modulus of the reinforced composites compared with the polymer samples. In addition, the Al-Cu-Fe filler was compared to its constituent metals, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide in PPS. Chemical analysis of the wear interface by X-ray spectroscopy indicated the generation of a third body oxide layer during wear. The fabrication in addition to the thermal, mechanical, and wear properties of these unique materials is described.