Johann Michler (EMPA Thun)
We developed recently techniques to probe mechanical properties at small length scales under extreme conditions of temperature, at high strain rates and under control of humidity. I combination with in-situ observation techniques such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) during micro-mechanical testing strain/stress fields or dislocation distributions can be mapped at several steps during progressive loading, which allows to reveal nanoscale deformation mechanisms for the first time under these conditions.
The talk will cover a number of application examples of these techniques ranging from a) model materials synthesised on purpose to understand longstanding problems in materials mechanics such as fracture mechanisms of monocrystalline Tungsten, plastic deformation of nanostructured metal thin films or failure mechanisms of 3D printed microlattices to b) medical applications such as fracture of bone and to c) current industrial applications of Swiss companies such as creep of watch components, toughness of hard coatings or fatigue of MEMS.