The physical properties of structural materials are determined by their microstructure. The microstructure can be investigated either by direct methods, especially transmission or scanning electron microscopy (TEM or SEM), or by the indirect methods, like X-ray line-profile analysis (XLPA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), residual electrical resistivity (RER) or the different methods of mechanical testing. All these methods, irrespective of whether direct or indirect, reflect different aspects of the different microstructure features. The more methods that are used, the more comprehensive will be the microstructure characterization. In the present work the method of XLPA is summarized and discussed in comparison with other methods listed here. It is attempted to reveal how XLPA can contribute to a more complete characterization of the microstructure of bulk nanomaterials, especially when combined with other methods.
General Concept and the Basic Ideas of X-ray Line-profile AnalysisWithin the framework of the kinematical scattering theory, the ideal diffraction pattern of a polycrystalline specimen consists of narrow, symmetrical, deltafunction-like peaks at the positions of the exact Bragg angles according to the well-defined unit cell of the crystal