Hardness of Quasicrystals

Abstract

Vickers hardness measurements have been made at room temperature for four thermodynamically stable quasicrystals. The hardness value of Al-Li-Cu icosahedral quasicrystal is about 500 (kg/mm 2 ) and those of Al-transition metal quasicrystals are commonly around 1000, which is extremely high for aluminum based alloys. Anisotropy in the hardness in Al-Co-Ni decagonal quasicrystal is rather small.