This article is cited in 4 papers

Metals

Lamellar structure and nanomechanical properties of quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe alloys

E. V. Shalaeva^ab, Yu. V. Chernyshev^a, E. O. Smirnova^c, S. V. Smirnov<sup>c

a</sup> Institute of Solid State Chemistry, Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg
^b Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Ekaterinburg
^c Institute of Engineering Science, Urals Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg

Abstract: The kinetics of structural phase transformations in quasicrystal-forming Al–Cu–Fe alloys with compositions in the region of stability of the icosahedral $(\iota)$ phase has been investigated. It has been shown that, depending on the development of metastable transformations $\iota\to$ pentagonal phases $P1$ and $P2$, a homogeneous lamellar structure $(\iota + P1 + P2)$ or a polygrain $\iota$-phase is formed in the alloys. The $P$–$h$ diagrams obtained upon nanoindentation, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy of indentations have demonstrated signs of elasto-plastic deformation of the alloys with lamellar and polygrain icosahedral structures. It has been found that, in contrast to the polygrain icosahedral alloys with a normal size effect of nanoindentation, the alloys with a lamellar structure are characterized by a nonmonotonic dependence of the hardness $(H)$ on the maximum load $(P_{\mathrm{\max}})$ and exhibit the effect of strain hardening in the range of loads 50 mN $\le P_{\mathrm{\max}}<$ 500 mN. The strain hardening is considered as the result of resistance exerted by boundaries of the lamellar structure to the development of plastic deformation.

Received: 14.05.2013

 English version: Physics of the Solid State, 2013, 55:11, 2205–2214

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