| Abstract Scope |
Conventionally, dislocations have not shown much relevancy for ceramic materials as they exhibit little to no plasticity at room temperature. However, recent studies of dislocations in functional ceramics are gaining interest due to their impact on functional and mechanical properties. Despite significant advances, cracks can still initiate and propagate unexpectedly, leading to catastrophic failure. To address this, we use SrTiO3 as a model material, employing DFXM to visualize dislocations at relevant scales with high spatial and angular resolution. We examined samples with varying dislocation densities (1012/m2 - 1014/m2), tuned with an in-house developed Brinell indentation scratching technique at room temperature, to map the spatial distribution of dislocations and strain fields in 3D. Our results reveal the 3D dislocation structure around a crack tip, providing unprecedented insights. We also compared these findings with TEM data, highlighting the complementary strengths of each method, providing valuable information for improving fracture resistance in ceramics. |