Corrosion Behavior of W and b Quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe Alloy Alvaro Torres 1 • Sergio Serna 2 • Cristobal Patin ˜o 3 • Gerardo Rosas 4 Received: 11 November 2014 / Revised: 12 June 2015 / Published online: 13 August 2015 Ó The Chinese Society for Metals and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Abstract Two nanostructured Al–Cu–Fe alloys, Al 64 Cu 24 Fe 12 and Al 62.5 Cu 25.2 Fe 12.3 , have been studied. Icosahedral quasicrystalline (w) Al 64 Cu 24 Fe 12 and crystalline cubic (b) Al 62.5 Cu 25.2 Fe 12.3 cylindrical ingots were first produced using normal casting techniques. High-energy mechanical milling was then conducted to obtain w icosahedral and b intermetallic nanostructured powders. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance, and potentiodynamic polarization were used to investigate the electrochemical corrosion characteristics of the powders in solutions with different pH values. Current density (i corr ), polarization resistance (R p ), and impedance modulus (|Z|) were determined. The results showed that regardless of pH value, increasing the solution temperature enhanced the corrosion resistance of the both phases. However, the electrochemical behavior of the w phase indicated that its stability depends on the submerged exposure time in neutral and alkaline environments. This behavior was related to the type of corrosion products present on the surfaces of the particles along with the diffusion and charge-transfer mechanisms of the corrosion process. KEY WORDS: Nano-quasicrystalline; Al–Cu–Fe alloy; Mechanical alloying; Corrosion 1 Introduction Quasicrystals present interesting properties such as low coefficients of friction and thermal conductivity, unusual optical properties, oxidation resistance, biocompatibility, high hardness, and low electrical conductivity [1]. Only a small number of the potential applications of quasicrys- talline materials have been commercialized after their dis- covery by Shechtman in 1984 [2]. This type of material represents a new challenge for material scientists and engi- neers. Today, quasicrystalline phases are encountered in over 100 alloy systems, of which the majority are aluminum based [1]. The alloying elements used to form aluminum- based quasicrystals are readily available, nontoxic, and reasonably priced. In addition to being interesting subjects for theoretical study, their complex atomic structures make these quasicrystals appealing for many practical purposes [1, 3]. Quasicrystals are promising as a reinforcing phase in composite materials; they have been suggested as filling phases for Al matrices and as reinforcing phases in maraging steels (yield stress of approximately 3 GPa) for surgical applications [4]. Recently, Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystals were suggested as fillers for ultra-high molecular weight poly- ethylene for use in acetabular cup prostheses [4]. Qua- sicrystals also have many useful properties that can be Available online at http://link.springer.com/journal/40195 & Alvaro Torres alvaro.torres@uaem.mx 1 Facultad de Ciencias Quı ´micas e Ingenierı ´a P.A. Ing. Meca ´nica, UAEM, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico 2 Centro de Investigacio ´n en Ingenierı ´a y Ciencias Aplicadas, UAEM, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico 3 Facultad de Ingenierı ´a, Universidad Auto ´noma del Carmen, Campus III, Avenida Central S/N, Esq. con Fracc. Mundo Maya, C.P. 24115 Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico 4 Instituto de Investigaciones Metalu ´rgicas, UMSNH, Edificio U., Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mich. 58000, Mexico 123 Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.), 2015, 28(9), 1117–1122 DOI 10.1007/s40195-015-0302-0