  Roughness of i-AlPdMn cleaved surfaces are presently analysed. From the
atomic scale to 2-3 nm, they are shown to exhibit scaling properties hiding the
cluster (0.45 nm) aperiodic structure. These properties are quantitatively
similar to those observed on various disordered materials, albeit on other
ranges of length scales. These properties are interpreted as the signature of
damage mechanisms occurring within a 2-3 nm wide zone at the crack tip. The
size of this process zone finds its origin in the local temperature elevation
at the crack tip. For the very first time, this effect is reported to be
responsible for a transition from a perfectly brittle behavior to a nanoductile
one.
