FORMATION AND STABILITY OF AL-MN QUASI-CRYSTALLINE THIN-FILMS PREPARED BY HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUCCESSIVE DEPOSITION

This article reviews the results on the formation of i-QC thin films p repared by high-temperature successive deposition in the Al-Mn system and the metastable quasicrystalline Al4Mn and crystalline Al6Mn phase transformation in detail. Experimental evidence is given for the locat ion of the solid-phase reaction. New data concerning the effects of pr eparation parameters (temperature, Mn deposition rate, composition) on the formation processes are reported. The phase formation and transfo rmation processes are described by the combination of thermodynamic an d kinetic factors.