A better understanding of the microstructure of metals and alloys has led to great advances in the performance and useful applications of these, the oldest of mankind’s engineered materials. This book in the Materials Characterizations series focuses on the particular molecular and atomistic properties of metals insofar as how they affect the different techniques for measuring and analyzing internal structure, surface structure, and chemical/physical properties. It provides a vital connection between commonly used characterization techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy and how such can be used in the various ways that metals are processed, machined, and used. — Review of relevant mechanical and chemical properties of metals and how they affect characterization techniques — Characterization techniques used for melting and casting, machining, and metallic thin films processes — Concise summaries of major characterization technologies for metals and alloys, including Auger Electron Spectroscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, Neutron Activation Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Transmission Electron Spectroscopy

This book covers various aspects of characterization of materials in the areas of metals, alloys, steels, welding, nanomaterials, intermetallic, and surface coatings. These materials are obtained by different methods and techniques like spray, mechanical milling, sol-gel, casting, biosynthesis, and chemical reduction among others. Some of these materials are classified according to application such as materials for medical application, materials for industrial applications, materials used in the oil industry and materials used like coatings. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of structural characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, image analysis, finite element method (FEM), optical microscopy (OM),  energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS),  Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), infrared photo-thermal radiometry (IPTR), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), thermo luminescence (TL), photoluminescence (PL), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and radio frequency (RF). The book includes theoretical models and illustrations of characterization properties—both structural and chemical.