Advances in Instrumentation for Materials Characterization

Most of what is known about the complexities of the effects of micro — structure on the properties of alloys has resulted from scientific studies of metal structures. Since the phases and features that most strongly affect metal properties are of the size range 10−1 to 10−7 mm, sophisticated instruments are required to observe, identify, and characterize them. This article, which summarizes recent developments and trends in this type of instrumentation as applied to metals and metallic phases, is a companion and introduction to two other papers on related subjects in this issue of the Journal (on the atom probe and the design of a modern metallurgical analytical laboratory), and describes forthcoming papers for the Journal in the area of sophisticated materials characterization.