The European Ceramic Society
News
Jan 2, 2020
In situ mechanical testing of ceramics in transmission electron microscope
YCN Research in Spot by Erkka Frankberg, Tampere University of Technology (FN) and YCN committee member

One way to improve the fracture toughness of ceramics, that is not included in the Griffith criterion, is to allow plastic deformation of the ceramic structure. Already in 1987, Karch et al. suggested in Nature that by lowering the grain size of a bulk ceramic material down to few nanometers, the deformation behaviour could change from brittle to ductile even at low temperatures.
Currently, I am studying the mechanical limits of these nanostructured ceramics by using in situ transmission electron microscopy. This enables us to manipulate (compression/tension) the sample in real time while imaging the deformation mechanism.
This will allow us to understand how these new materials behave under stress and whether we could increase the ductility of ceramics close to that of metals.
Last news
Oct 6, 2023
YCN Newsletter 18 - New YCN Representative call
You can now apply to the YCN Representative position here! Deadline for applications is October 31st 2023.
Oct 6, 2023
Next Deadline to apply to the JECS Trust is 30th November 2023!
Please note that the decisions of the JECS Trust board will not be known before end of February 2024. Activities submitted for the deadline of 30th November 2023 for support from the JECS Trust should then not begin before mid-March 2024.
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