In-situ TEM observations of deformation processes in nanocrystalline Pd

In this study we show that in-situ tensile tests performed in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) in combination with high-resolution TEM are feasible, and, that this method is appropriate to elucidate the deformation processes in nanocrystalline materials directly. First results on nanocrystalline Pd produced by repeated cold-rolling with intermediate folding of metal sheets are presented revealing that the material ruptured during the in-situ tensile tests along grain boundaries. Deformation twinning was observed in grains next to the crack indicating that the deformation processes must have originated from the grain boundaries.