A series of polyquasicrystalline ingots with the nominal composition Al63.6Cu24.0Fe12.4 has been prepared by conventional drop casting and subsequent annealing at 1088 K for 24 h. Compression specimens prepared from the different ingots have been deformed at temperatures ranging from 750 to 1050 K. The details of the structure and microstructure of the as-cast, annealed and deformed materials have been investigated by optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Whatever their initial structure (i.e. pure icosahedral, modulated or relevant to approximant phases) and their defect microstructure (dislocations and crystalline platelets), all the specimens, which have been compression tested, exhibit similar mechanical behaviours.