Precipitation hardening through sacrificial phase in aluminum-quasicrystal metal matrix composites

► Higher than 1 GPa of compressive yield strength was attained by adding Mg in the mechanically alloyed Al-QC MMC. ► Al, Mg, Cu elements in the Al matrix formed Al-Cu-Mg precipitates to improve the strength of the composites, where copper was sourced by thedecomposition of icosahedral Al65Cu20Fe15 phase. ► The icosahedral phase turned into λ2 (Al13Fe4) phase by losing elemental copper from the original stoichiometry.