Quasicrystalline phase formation in the mechanically alloyed Al-Cu-Fe system

Al-Cu-Fe samples were prepared by ball milling powders of elemental Al, Cu, Fe (first route) and of elemental Al mixed with previously mechanically alloyed Cu-Fe solid solution (second route). Phase and structure transformations by annealing the as-milled powders were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The influence of the thermodynamic driving forces, namely the heat of mixing, positive for the Cu-Fe system and negative for the Al-Fe and Al-Cu systems, was discussed and correlated to the sequence of phase transformations during heating.