Editing Quasicrystal (section)

=== Applications ===
Quasicrystalline substances have potential applications in several forms.

Metallic quasicrystalline coatings can be applied by [[thermal spraying]] or [[magnetron sputtering]]. A problem that must be resolved is the tendency for cracking due to the materials' extreme brittleness.<ref name="mrs" /> The cracking could be suppressed by reducing sample dimensions or coating thickness.<ref name="nature.com" /> Recent studies show typically brittle quasicrystals can exhibit remarkable ductility of over 50% strains at room temperature and sub-micrometer scales (<500&nbsp;nm).<ref name="nature.com" />

An application was the use of low-friction Al–Cu–Fe–Cr quasicrystals<ref>{{cite thesis|doi=10.5075/epfl-thesis-2707|author=Fikar, Jan |year=2003|title=Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline coatings and composites studied by mechanical spectroscopy|publisher=École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, Thesis n° 2707 (2002)}}</ref> as a coating for [[frying pan]]s. Food did not stick to it as much as to [[stainless steel]] making the pan moderately [[non-stick]] and easy to clean; heat transfer and durability were better than [[PTFE]] non-stick cookware and the pan was free from [[perfluorooctanoic acid]] (PFOA); the surface was very hard, claimed to be ten times harder than stainless steel, and not harmed by metal utensils or cleaning in a [[dishwasher]]; and the pan could withstand temperatures of {{Convert|1000|C|sigfig=2}} without harm. However, after an initial introduction the pans were a chrome steel, probably because of the difficulty of controlling thin films of the quasicrystal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Widjaja |first=Edy |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/44d6ab76271620818381a74684e9945a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y&casa_token=9d5DGvy1Q3EAAAAA:InGBLgm8r0b-OQ2GMmc4bosumNpFp5ucdJQzXDqKzTe3fp2Uz5-XVpa2qV5FVNOIBVBb4ZfnQg |title=Quasicrystalline thin films: growth, structure and interface |publisher=Northwestern University |year=2004 |location=Evanston, Illinois, USA |pages=Appendix A |bibcode=2004PhDT........60W |access-date=2023-12-02 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918002538/https://www.proquest.com/openview/44d6ab76271620818381a74684e9945a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y&casa_token=9d5DGvy1Q3EAAAAA:InGBLgm8r0b-OQ2GMmc4bosumNpFp5ucdJQzXDqKzTe3fp2Uz5-XVpa2qV5FVNOIBVBb4ZfnQg |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Nobel citation said that quasicrystals, while brittle, could reinforce steel "like armor". When Shechtman was asked about potential applications of quasicrystals he said that a precipitation-hardened stainless steel is produced that is strengthened by small quasicrystalline particles. It does not corrode and is extremely strong, suitable for razor blades and surgery instruments. The small quasicrystalline particles impede the motion of dislocation in the material.<ref name="mitrev" />

Quasicrystals were also being used to develop heat insulation, [[LED]]s, diesel engines, and new materials that convert heat to electricity. Shechtman suggested new applications taking advantage of the low coefficient of friction and the hardness of some quasicrystalline materials, for example embedding particles in plastic to make strong, hard-wearing, low-friction plastic gears. The low heat conductivity of some quasicrystals makes them good for heat insulating coatings.<ref name="mitrev" /> One of the special properties of quasicrystals is their smooth surface, which despite the irregular atomic
structure, the surface of quasicrystals can be smooth and flat.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bakhtiari |first1=H. |title=An Overview of Quasicrystals, Their Types, Preparation Methods, Properties |journal=Journal of Environmental Friendly Materials |volume=5 |pages=69–76 |url=http://jefm.kiau.ac.ir/article_682540_041d8d272bb5706da2472b22eace5d2c.pdf |access-date=2021-10-31 |archive-date=2021-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031204626/http://jefm.kiau.ac.ir/article_682540_041d8d272bb5706da2472b22eace5d2c.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other potential applications include selective solar absorbers for power conversion, broad-wavelength reflectors, and bone repair and prostheses applications where biocompatibility, low friction and corrosion resistance are required. Magnetron sputtering can be readily applied to other stable quasicrystalline alloys such as Al–Pd–Mn.<ref name="mrs" />
[[File:Rendering of quasicrystal structure.jpg|thumb|Rendering of a quasicrystalline structure, created using an open-source model for [[Computational engineering|Computational Engineering]].]]