"In Situ Micromechanical Testing to Examine Plasticity in Ceramics" 

Huan Li, MSE PhD Candidate 

Advisor: Professor Haiyan Wang

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ABSTRACT

Ceramics have been commonly utilized for structural applications. However, the essential brittleness of ceramics at room temperature quite limited its applications. This review paper aims to sum up methods to enhance the plasticity of ceramics at room temperature. Here we introduced four mechanisms to enhance the plasticity of ceramics via mechanisms, such as phase transformation, dislocation slip, deformation twins. Moreover, researchers usually use in situ mechanical tests under TEM to investigate mechanical behavior of ceramics. Results demonstrate that ceramics can deform at room temperature via phase transformation, dislocation slip and deformation twin mechanisms. These findings provide a new pathway for enhancement of plasticity of ceramics.