Mechanical behavior law of ceramic nanoparticles from transmission electron microscopy in situ nano-compression tests

A methodology has been developed to determine constitutive laws of nanoparticles from in situ nano-compression experiments in a transmission electron microscope. It is based on image analysis to obtain relevant load–displacement curves, followed by finite element analysis associated to an inverse method. A transition alumina, stable only at the nanometer size, has been characterized as an example. The Young modulus and yield strength of this transition alumina, not available for such crystallographic structure, have been obtained. •In-situ TEM tests of commercial alumina nano-particles were conducted.•A methodology is proposed to obtain their mechanical behavior law.•The methodology is based on image correlation, finite element analysis and on an inverse method.•This is the first time that the constitutive mechanical law of ceramic nanoparticles is determined.•Ceramic nano-particles can exhibit extensive plasticity before failure.