Real time TEM observation of alumina ceramic nano-particles during compression

The behavior of alumina nano-particles taken from a commercial powder is investigated during in situ compression experiments in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Small particles of 40 nm in diameter can undergo severe plastic deformation without failure, whereas brittle fracture is observed for 120 nm sized nano-particles. This is evidence of a critical size under which alumina, at least in the form of nano-particles, cannot be considered as brittle materials even at room temperature and a direct observation of the grinding limit generally observed during ball milling.