Microstructural Characterization of Ball-Milled Hydrides

Two important morphological parameters characterizing ball-milled powders are the particle and grain size of constituent phases within the powders. In our laboratory, the size measurement of the powder particles is carried out by attaching loose powder to sticky carbon tape and taking pictures under secondary electron (SE) mode in the SEM. The images are then analyzed by an image analysis software. The size of the powders is calculated as the particle equivalent circle diameter, ECD = AA/nf, where A represents the projected particle area. Usually from -300 to 700 particles are analyzed for each batch. 

It must be also noted that modem X-ray diffractometers are usually equipped with software that calculates grain size and lattice strain. 

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