Cryogenic Testing
Alemnis pioneered in situ micromechanical experiments at low (cryogenic) temperatures, and has ever since continued the development to provide convenient and reliable experimenting. The Alemnis LTM-CRYO module utilizes liquid nitrogen to cool the sample and the tip down to temperatures as low as -150 °C while it can also be heated up to 200 °C. This add-on module was developed and optimised with the aim to provide a unique solution for cryo in situ micromechanical testing of all kinds of materials and features:
- Highest temperature stability
- Most precise thermal match between Tip and Sample
- Minimal thermal drift
- Constant system compliance across all temperatures
Selected Application Examples
Micropillar compression
Micropillar compression of of 1.4305 stainless steel at low temperatures reveals strain-induced martensite transformation, as reported by Cios, G. et al. (Metall Mater Trans A 48, 4999–5008, 2017). Micropillars were fabricated by Fs-Laser with a final FIB polishing.
Particle compression at -150 °C from 500 µm/s up to 5’000 µm/s
Cryogenic testing combined with high strain rates: Stainless steel particle compression. (Courtesy of Politecnico di Milano)
Nanoindentation
Nanoindentation of fused silica at low temperatures reveals the well-known trend of decreasing elastic modulus at increasing hardness.
High Strain Rates at Low Temperatures
Nickle at Low Temperatures & High Strain Rates (Schwiedrzik, J. et al. Mater. Des. 2022, 220, 110836.)
Selected References
- Chen, M. et al. Exploring defect behavior and size effects in micron-scale germanium from cryogenic to elevated temperatures. Matter 6, 1903–1927 (2023).
- Dubosq, R. et al. Electron microscope loading and in situ nanoindentation of water ice at cryogenic temperatures. PLoS One 18, e0281703 (2023).
- della Ventura, N. M. et al. Temperature dependent critical stress for {101¯2} twinning in magnesium micropillars at cryogenic temperatures. Scr. Mater. 226, 115195 (2023).
- Schwiedrzik, J. et al. Dynamic cryo-mechanical properties of additively manufactured nanocrystalline nickel 3D microarchitectures. Mater. Des. 220, 110836 (2022).
- Widmer, R. N. et al. Temperature–dependent dynamic plasticity of micro-scale fused silica. Mater. Des. 215, 110503 (2022).
- Thomas, K. et al. Elevated and cryogenic temperature micropillar compression of magnesium–niobium multilayer films. J. Mater. Sci. 54, 10884–10901 (2019).
- Ast, J. et al. The brittle-ductile transition of tungsten single crystals at the micro-scale. Mater. Des. 152, 168–180 (2018).