Structural Characterization by Optical Techniques

Optical examination is almost inevitable in materials characterization clearly, the first and most obvious thing to do with a new material is to look at it However, with the wide gamut of sophisticated techniques available for materials studies, what was in earlier times a long, hard look, has now frequently degenerated to a mere cursory glance and much useful, sometimes vital, information that could be easily obtained from a more perceptive optical study is completely missed. Often, the only equipment necessary for such studies would be a metallurgical microscope, or a petrographic instrument equipped with objectives for incident illumination. 

The external morphology of well-formed crystals frequently provides information on the crystal symmetry, a useful precursor to a 

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