FOREWORD THE GOLDEN MEAN AND THE KITCHEN -- References -- TABLE of CONTENTS -- CHAPTER 1 WHAT TO KNOW TO START WITH -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Classical and Non-Classical Crystals -- 3 The Reciprocal Space -- 4 The Search for Enhanced Mechanical Properties -- 5 The Birth of a Monster -- 6 The Quarrel of Ancients and Moderns -- 7 The World of Quasicrystals -- 8 Recovering the Periodicity -- 9 Organised Disorder: the Phasons -- 10 From Tilings to Coverings -- References -- CHAPTER 2 STRANGE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Basics of Metal Physics, in Very Simple Words -- 2.1 Electron Transport in Metallic Crystals -- 2.2 Electron Bands -- 2.3 The Hume-Rothery Rules in Crystals -- 3 Electronic Transport in Quasicrystals -- 3.1 Phenomenological Data -- 3.2 An Insulator Made of Metals -- 3.3 Quantum Interference Effects -- 3.4 Variable Range Hopping -- 3.5 Hierarchical Recurrent Localization -- 3.6 Optical Properties -- 3.7 Another Step Towards a Model of Electronic Conductivity -- 4 Electron Densities of States -- 4.1 Pseudogap and Relevant Experimental Information -- 4.2 The Hume-Rothery Gap in Related Crystals -- 4.3 Surface Electronic States -- 4.4 A Bit More about d-states and the Role of Transition Metals -- 4.5 Enhanced Stability of Quasicrystals and Approximants -- 5 Lattice Dynamics and Thermal Conductivity -- 5.1 Lattice Vibrations in Icosahedral Mono-Domain Samples -- 5.2 Heat Conduction -- 5.3 Structural Scattering of Phonons -- 5.4 Electronic Contribution to Heat Transport -- 6 Magnetism -- References -- CHAPTER 3 WHEN ATOMS MOVE AWAY -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Brittle Intermetallics that End into Chewing-Gum -- 2.1 Hardness, Brittleness and Low Friction -- 2.2 Plastic Behaviour at Elevated Temperature -- 2.3 The Role of Dislocations -- 2.4 Behind Dislocations, Cluster Friction -- 3 Non-Conventional Surfaces.

3.1 Rough and Flat Surfaces -- 3.2 Static Friction on Clean Surfaces -- 4 Oxidation Behaviour -- 4.1 Dependence on Oxidizing Environment -- 4.2 Kinetics and Temperature Dependence -- 5 Atomic Mobility -- 5.1 Atomic Transport in Normal Crystals -- 5.2 Diffusion in Icosahedral Quasicrystals -- 5.3 Phason Assisted Diffusion -- 5.4 Atomic Jumps -- References -- CHAPTER 4 PREPARATION AND MASS PRODUCTION -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Phase Selection -- 3 The Multitude of Approximants -- 3.1 Crystals and Approximants in the Al-Cu-Fe-Cr System -- 3.2 B2 - Based Approximants in Relation to Quasicrystals -- 4 Phase Diagrams -- 4.1 Growth from the Liquid State -- 4.2 Equilibrium Phase-Diagram Data -- 5 Phase Transformations -- 5.1 Order-Disorder Transitions -- 5.2 Phason-Driven Transitions -- 5.3 Pressure-Induced Transitions -- 5.4 Surface Transformations -- 6 Preparation in the Laboratory -- 6.1 Out-of-Equilibrium Methods -- 6.2 Mono-Domain Samples -- 6.3 The Nightmare of Growing a Stable Quasicrystal -- 6.4 Sintering -- 7 The Thick Coatings Route -- 7.1 Thermal Spraying versus Magnetron Sputtering Techniques -- 7.2 Processing of Atomized Powders -- 7.3 Polishing and Surface Preparation -- 7.4 Phase Stability of Quasicrystalline Coatings in Agressive Media -- 8 Thin Films and Nanosized Precipitates -- 8.1 Multilayers or Vapour Deposited Films -- 8.2 New Data from Kinetics of Growth -- 8.3 Nanosized Precipitates in Selected Metallic Alloys -- References -- CHAPTER 5 THE RISE OF A DREAM -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Smart Surfaces -- 2.1 Facts and Artifacts -- 2.2 Wetting and Electronic Properties -- 2.3 Cooking Utensils for the Future -- 3 Application to Energy Savings -- 3.1 Thermal Barriers -- 3.2 Reducing Friction and Wear -- 3.3 Friction in Vacuum and (Once More) Surface Energy -- 4 Electronic Devices -- 4.1 Light Absorption and Sensors -- 4.2 Thermo-Power Generation.

5 Generation of a Green Energy -- 5.1 Catalysis -- 5.2 Hydrogen Storage -- 6 High-Performance Alloys for Mechanical Applications -- 6.1 New Maraging Steels and Light Alloys -- 6.2 Metal and Polymer Matrix Composites -- 7 Perspective View at Other Applications -- References -- CONCLUSION THE DREAM IS NOT OVER YET -- References -- Index -- Author Index -- Subject Index -- Atomic mobility -- Crystallography -- Electronic structure -- Mechanical properties -- Metallurgy -- Surface properties -- Technology -- Thermodynamics -- Transport properties.