dislocation patterning

In our center: “The physics of metal plasticity” we conduct basic science to reveal the physical mechanisms governing the mechanical properties of metals, such as strength and formability. When metals are deformed plastically, dislocations (defects in the crystal lattice) multiply and self-organize in 3D patterns. We have developed a hard X-ray microscope at the European Synchrotron Radiation Source (ESRF) that for the first time allows visualization of how these patterns form.