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Crystal deformation

Colloid model for atoms

Pushing a sewing needle into a colloidal crystal may seem a crude experiment. On the contrary, combined with laser diffraction microscopy and confocal microscopy, it provides a valuable analogy to nanoindentation and promises a deeper understanding of the mechanical response of crystalline materials.

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Figure 1: Signs of weakness.

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Suresh, S. Colloid model for atoms. Nature Mater 5, 253–254 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1621

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