An Introduction to X-Ray Metallography

Abstract

THE investigation of the structure of matter by means of X-rays became possible with Laue's discovery of the crystal diffraction of X-rays in 1912, and following on this, the great pioneer work of the Braggs laid the foundations of the X-ray study of crystal structure. The development of the powder method by Debye and Scherrer in 1915 and independently by Hull in 1916 enabled the structure of very small crystals to be studied, a matter of considerable importance to the metallographer. The subject of Dr. Taylor's new book may be said to have originated with Westgren's paper, “Rontgen Spectra of Iron and Steel”, which appeared in 1921. By means of high-temperature Debye-Seherrer photographs, Westgren proved that the a and (3 forms of iron were identical, and he determined the structure of the Y form. Progress since this date has been immense and, as Sir Lawrence Bragg says in his foreword to Dr. Taylor's book, X-ray analysis has now taken its place beside the classical methods of metallurgy.

An Introduction to X-Ray Metallography

By Dr. A. Taylor. Pp. xi + 400 + 45 plates. (London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1945.) 36s. net.