On icosahedral phase formation in mechanically alloyed Al<SUB>70</SUB>Cu<SUB>20</SUB>Fe<SUB>10</SUB>

The formation of icosahedral phase by mechanical alloying of crystalline elemental powders has been investigated. The effect of milling energy on icosahedral phase formation in Al70Cu20Fe10 has been studied using X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis. In order to study the alloying process during milling, different starting compositions of Al, Cu and Fe elemental blends have been used. The present study indicates that even though the intermediate phases formed during milling are the same, the icosahedral phase formation is sensitive to the way in which the nominal composition is reached