| Abstract Scope |
Bulk single-phase (Co,Cu,Mg,Ni,Zn)O was synthesized using solid-state sintering. Mechanical deformation behavior, including dislocation activity, was investigated through the application of SEM in-situ micropillar compression and transmission electron microscopy. Micropillars were prepared and mechanically deformed in compression along three crystallographic orientations: (001), (101), and (111). Schmid factor (SF) analysis was performed to examine the effect of grain orientation on dislocation activity and mechanical behavior. Dislocation structures, observed post-compression via transmission electron microscopy, demonstrated variations in size, number, and distribution across the pillars, depending on the micropillar orientation. While not all orientations led to dislocation activity, for those where dislocations were active, dislocation structures ranged from singular dislocations to the formation of subgrains. Variations in dislocation activity also led to variations in crack behavior. These findings highlight the importance of grain orientation and room temperature dislocation activity in controlling the mechanical deformation response in single-phase (Co,Cu,Mg,Ni,Zn)O. |