It was recalled that crystals were normally strengthened by introducing defects (strain-hardening): as the number of defects increased, their movement and multiplication was impeded and thus strengthened the material. Here, hardening by dislocation starvation was demonstrated: a very different mechanism which was based upon the elimination of defects. It was shown that sub-μm Au crystals could be 50 times stronger than bulk crystals, following the elimination of defects during deformation.

Nanoscale Gold Pillars Strengthened through Dislocation Starvation. J.R.Greer, W.D.Nix: Physical Review B, 73[24], 245410 (6pp)