Influence of copper, calcium and strontium on the formation of quasicrystals in Al-Mn-based alloys

Naglič, Iztok (author), Leskovar, Blaž (author), Zaky, Adam (author), Arah, Bor (author), Stojanović, Jovica (author), Kamberović, Željko (author), Boulet, Pascal (author), Markoli, Boštjan (author)

In this study, the effect of adding calcium or strontium to Al-Mn and Al-Mn-Cu alloys on the formation of quasicrystals (QCs) is investigated. The alloys were cast in a massive copper mould with a cavity diameter of 3 mm. The cast alloys were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction. The addition of either calcium or strontium to Al-Mn and Al-Mn-Cu alloys promotes the formation of icosahedral QCs (IQCs). The results also show that neither calcium or strontium are integral part of the QC phases formed in these alloys. The results further indicate considerable differences in the composition of decagonal QC (DQC) phases in Al-Mn-Cu alloys without and with either calcium or strontium, whereas the electron-atom ratio according to Mizutani shows almost negligible differences. The effectiveness of calcium and strontium in promoting the formation of IQCs is attributed to a reduced surface tension of the Al-based melt. This consequently leads to a decrease in the critical radius for nucleation of IQCs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: solidification, quasicrystals, X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, surface tension
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 14.02.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179548
• UDC: 669
• ISSN on article: 0925-8388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.186847
• COBISS.SI-ID: 268527875
• Publication date in RUL: 17.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of alloys and compounds
• Shortened title: J. alloys compd.
• Publisher: Elsevier Sequoia
• ISSN: 0925-8388
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15375109

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P1-0195
• Name: Geookolje in geomateriali

• Funder: INC CNRS and the Universit´e de Lorraine
• Name: International Research Project MATERIOMICS