Applications of electron microscopy in materials science and technology (microscopy in the modern world)*

Abstract

KEY w O R D S . Electron microscopy, materials science, microstructure/property relationships, phase transformations, interfaces. S U M M A R YA personal overview is presented attempting to show something of the broad range of applications of techniques associated with electron microscopy in the field of materials science and technology. The importance of electron microscopy in understanding microstructure/property relationships and the evolution of microstructure is stressed. In addition, some of the important uses of electron optical techniques in the more applied areas of materials technology are surveyed. The format adopted in this presentation is to illustrate the applications of electron microscopy in materials science and technology by citing recent studies. These include investigations of deformation, of grain growth, of precipitation and phase transformations and of the determination of the structure of interfaces.