Electron Microscopies

TEM allows us to examine extremely small defects inside materials, down to the nanoscale. By studying these tiny flaws in ultra-thin samples, we can better understand how materials behave in real-world applications, such as in engines or structural components.

With SEM, we inspect material surfaces to identify cracks, roughness, or other signs of degradation. It provides a highly detailed view, helping us understand how materials degrade or fail under mechanical stress.

EBSD is an SEM-based method that maps the crystallographic orientation, grain boundaries, and phases within a material. It reveals how crystals orient, shift, or transform when the material is deformed, heated, or subjected to other conditions. This information is crucial for assessing not only strength and flexibility but also phase distribution, texture, and microstructural evolution.

This advanced SEM technique measures minuscule strains and rotations within crystals, revealing hidden stresses that could lead to failure. HR-EBSD helps us detect weak spots and understand how stress accumulates at a near-atomic level.

ECCI is a non-destructive SEM technique that reveals sub-surface defects in bulk materials with both fine detail and statistical relevance. Unlike TEM — which provides detailed but limited statistical information on defects — ECCI offers comprehensive defect characterization over larger areas in bulk samples without damaging them. It works by detecting variations in electron scattering along crystal planes, highlighting defects up to ~100 nanometres deep. We use ECCI to track how these defects evolve during deformation, and we develop new procedures to further exploit the potential of this technique, aiming for higher resolution and better signal quality.

We perform real-time mechanical and thermal tests inside the SEM, including in situ tensile and compression tests at room and high temperatures, as well as nanoindentation. These experiments allow us to observe how materials respond to mechanical and thermal stress, providing insights into their structural, functional, and failure behaviors. By comparing experimental observations with simulations and modeling, we validate and refine predictive models to better understand and optimize material performance.