Synthesis of quasicrysalline powders and coatings by vacuum arc plasma evaporation

Quasicrystalline coatings of the Al–Cu–Fe system were obtained by sputtering the cathode using a pulsed high-current low-pressure arc discharge followed by deposition on a hot (600$^{\circ}$C) and cooled substrate (25$^{\circ}$C). The surface morphology, chemical and phase composition of evaporation products in the form of powder and the resulting coatings were studied. Powders and coatings were also annealed and the phase composition variation was studied. It was found that during the evaporation process a significant change in the chemical composition occurs in the form of loss of Al from the surface of the particles and the coating, which leads to a decrease in the content of the $\psi$ phase. However, subsequent annealing and sputtering on a hot substrate lead to an increase in the $\psi$ phase, as well as the density and hardness of the coatings.