Phase Transitions between the Quasicrystalline, Crystalline, and Amorphous Phases in Al14 at% Mn

By means of electron irradiation the amorphous state can be produced in quasicrystalline and crystalline Al14 at% Mn. The transitions between these three phases are studied in situ in a high-voltage electron microscope. The behaviour of the quasicrystalline phase exhibits features distinctly different from those of the crystalline phase. Under certain conditions the phase transition quasicrystalline–amorphous is reversible and the quasicrystalline phase develops from the amorphous state. From the temperature dependence of the transformation kinetics conclusions can be drawn on the temperature dependence of atom transport in the phases investigated.