Planar decagonal-phase precipitates in icosahedral Al—Pd—Mn quasicrystals

Planar decagonal-phase precipitates were observed in icosahedral Al—Pd—Mn quasicrystals and analysed by conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Z-contrast imaging, electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The habit plane normal vector is parallel to the tenfold axis of the decagonal phase, which in turn is parallel to a fivefold direction of the quasicrystalline matrix. At the periphery ∗of the precipitates, dislocation-like structures occur. For the first time a complete six-dimensional analysis of the direction of the strain field vectors was achieved.