PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SINGLE QUASI-CRYSTALS OF THE AL-PD-MN ICOSAHEDRAL PHASE

Large single quasicrystals of the icosahedral Al-Pd-Mn phase have been grown using the Czochralski technique. Different experimental conditi ons which favour the growth of a large single grain have been tried. T he best single grain obtained is 3 cm3 in volume and has an overall mo saic spread of 0.06-degrees, revealing the high quality of the sample. This represents an increase in volume of one order of magnitude, toge ther with a decrease in the mosaic spread of the same amount when comp ared with our previous results using the Bridgman technique. The quasi crystallinity of the samples has been checked by various methods.