Observing Deformation Mechanisms at Microscale

For every project or application, it is important to select a material that exhibits the desired mechanical properties. To be able to do so, the performance of multiple materials needs to be determined via mechanical testing. Here, we present the ability to combine mechanical tests with microstructural observations, which gives new insight into the microscale deformation and fracture mechanisms present in materials. Thanks to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) during testing, we are able to perform in-situ visualization of the microstructure of the material and how it responds to mechanical loads. SEM offers a high resolution, a wide range of magnification, and a higher field of depth than traditional optical microscopic techniques. With these new insights, materials can be tuned more efficiently towards their specific applications.