Title: Description of the homogeneity of material microstructures: using computer-aided analysis

Authors: Krzysztof Rozniatowski, Tomasz Wejrzanowski, Gabriela Gorny, Marian Raczka

Addresses: Materials Science Department, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland. ' Materials Science Department, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland. ' Department of Special Ceramics, Academy of Mining and Metallurgy, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland. ' Department of Special Ceramics, Academy of Mining and Metallurgy, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland

Abstract: The paper presents and compares three methods for the quantitative description of particle spatial distribution, namely, the linear covariance, Radial Distribution Function (RDF) and tessellation methods. First, model structures were analysed using these methods. It was shown that the particle spatial distribution and the quantitative parameters are clearly interrelated. The presented methods were applied for a quantitative description of the structure of AlN-TiB₂ composite obtained via Self-Propagation High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS). Several parameters quantitatively describing the particle spatial distribution in the studied material were determined. The influence of the structural parameters on mechanical properties was investigated. The results are discussed in terms of further optimisation of the studied material.

Keywords: image analysis; quantitative description; spatial distribution; composites; microstructure; linear covariance; radial distribution function; RDF; tessellation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2009.028634

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2009 Vol.4 No.2, pp.207 - 216

Published online: 21 Sep 2009 *

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