Characterization Techniques of Glasses and Ceramics

This book covers a wide range of lectures given at the Short Summer Course cel­ ebrated at La Laguna University about the new trends in the modern character­ ization methods: chemical, microscopies, thermal, X-ray, resonance and nuclear methos for ceramics, glasses and related materials. This book also looks also at the zeolite thermal characterization methods as well as the new approaches in new microscopies for the investigation of surfaces in materials. Nowadays is generally accepted in the scientific community that characteri­ zation methods must be used in research from a complementary point of view. The concious application of several characterization techniques in the same ma­ terial is very useful not only for obtaining a best knowledgement of the material characteristics, but also to answer scientific and technical questions about the processing and properties of final products. Whereas the introducing chapter in chemical analysis of rare earths the several methods here described looked as complementary methods which can be used in the investigation of ceramics and glasses. The major part of the book is devoted to fundamentals and applications of the techniques with a direct style which makes the book easy to read, being particularly useful for anyone beginning in research and applications of ceram­ ics, glasses and glass-ceramics. Each chapter include clear figures and additional references for those interested in obtaining a depth knowledgement in different techniques.