On the Characterization of a Hitherto Unreported Icosahedral Quasicrystal Phase in Additively Manufactured Aluminum Alloy AA7075

Aluminum alloy AA7075 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) specimens were prepared using selective laser melting, also known as powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. In the as-manufactured state, which represents a locally rapidly solidified condition, the prevalence of a previously unreported icosahedral quasicrystal with 5-fold symmetry was observed. The icosahedral quasicrystal, which has been termed -phase (nu-phase), was comprised of Zn, Cu, and Mg.