Applications of small-angle scattering in ceramic research

Many of the microstructural features of critical importance in technological materials occur over the size range of a few nanometres to a few hundred nanometres. The ability of small-angle scattering techniques to provide microstructural information in this critical size range has led to the extensive and highly successful utilization of small-angle scattering in the fields of polymer science and metallurgy. Recently, perhaps driven by the renewed interest in ceramics as technological materials, the applications of small-angle scattering to studies of fine ceramics have begun to increase. Selected examples from past investigations, which include fundamental studies of damage accumulation, phase transformation and fabrication techniques, will serve to illustrate the applicability of small-angle scattering in ceramics research and identify likely areas of future advancement.