Why can quasicrystals be useful as high-strength surface coatings?

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quasicrystal Figure 1: Hexagonal lattice of atomic sites.

Quasicrystals are highly effective as high-strength surface coatings primarily due to their exceptional hardness.1

While quasicrystals are inherently brittle—a result of the near absence of dislocation motion within their structure—this same characteristic provides a significant mechanical advantage. Because metals typically bend through the creation and movement of dislocations, the low mobility of these defects in quasicrystals allows the material to strongly resist deformation. This resistance to deformation makes them ideal for protective coatings, a utility first demonstrated in their application to aluminum frying pans.1