The Cu-containing Al13Fe4 phase was studied by X-ray diffractometry, e
lectron microscopy and thermal analysis The increase in the Cu concent
ration results in a decrease in the melting temperature. No structural
variations were observed in this compound up to a limiting Cu concent
ration of about 6 at.%. The increase in the Cu content is realized by
the permanent replacement of the Al atoms by Cu in the (x0z) plane of
the binary Al13Fe4 structure at the (0.5, 0, 0.5) and (0.919, 0, 0.216
) positions as determined for the 4 at.% Cu phase. The effect of the s
ubstitution of Cu for Al is discussed. with respect to the absorption
of electrons by Fe atoms in (Al, Cu)13Fe4.