Abstract
A cubic approximant for the icosahedral phase is found in the Zn-Mg-Er system. The preparation of the Zn-Mg-Er ternary phase (the so-called R phase) through quenching and annealing is described in detail. The R phase was found by means of scanning electron microscopy in combination with wavelength-dispersive X-ray analysis. The composition of the R phase varies around Zn63Mg23Er14 in different samples depending on the initial composition. The structure has been studied by a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray powder diffraction. The R phase is cubic with a 0 = 2.02 nm and crystallizes in the space group F 43m. The close relationship of this phase to the icosahedral phase in the Zn-Mg-Y, RE system (RE = rare earth) is demonstrated through electron diffraction features and HRTEM images.
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