Evidence of a stable binary CdCa quasicrystalline phase

Abstract

Quasicrystals with a primitive icosahedral structure and a quasilattice constant of 5.1215 Å have been synthesized in a binary Cd-Ca system. The thermal stability of the quasicrystal has been investigated by in situ high-temperature x-ray powder diffraction using synchrotron radiation. It is demonstrated that the binary CdCa quasicrystal is thermodynamic stable up to its melting temperature. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of the quasicrystal is 2.765×10-5K-1. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.