In-situ TEM deformation studies of dislocation generation and motion in high-purity Mo single crystals

The generation and motion of dislocations in high-purity single crystals of Mo have been observed in real time by deforming electron-transparent samples in-situ in a transmission electron microscope. At 300 K and at low levels of stress, a novel dislocation source was observed that generated a long, straight screw dislocation. The source was a dislocation tangle that existed in the annealed material. An edge dislocation emerged from the tangle, trailing behind it the screw dislocation. These screw dislocations were immobile at this stress level. At higher stresses, the same dislocation tangle generated many dislocations, but now by a pole mechanism. The nature of these tangles and the source operation mechanisms will be described.