Figure 3: Evidence of GB sliding within the deformed area.
From: Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocrystalline boron carbide by nanoporosity and interface phases
(a) TEM micrograph of n-B4C sliced from an indented impression made by 1,000-mN applied force. The sliced residual indent was lifted up using FIB and attached to Cu grid. The dash line (red) indicates the profile of the residual indent. Scale bar, 2 μm. (b) Bright-field TEM image of undeformed region shows the homogenous distribution of nanoporosity. The inserted is a SAED pattern taken from this region. Scale bar, 500 nm. (c) Bright-field TEM image of the deformed area (underneath the indenter) showing the elimination of nanoporosity. The inserted SAED pattern is taken from the deformed region with densely distributed rings owing to increased nanograin density. Scale bar, 500 nm. (d) Zoom-in TEM image beneath indenter showing the well-distributed amorphous phases along GBs caused by GB sliding. Scale bar, 50 nm.
