270153 VO Characterization of Inorganic Materials (2008W)

The lecture gives an overview about different methods used for the characterization of inorganic materials; in particular thermal methods of analysis. The classical methods of thermal analysis, DTA (Differential Thermal Analysis), DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and TGA (Thermo Gravimetric Analysis) as well as their combination with methods of phase characterization like X-ray powder diffraction, metallograpy (optical microscopy) and EPMA (Electron Probe Microanalysis) are treated in the first section. In the second section we discuss the different methods used for the measurement of thermochemical properties. This will include calorimetry, vapour pressure measurements and EMF (Electro Motoric Force) measurements using solid and liquid electrolytes, respectively. The critical evaluation of experimental data, the estimation of physical properties and the thermodynamic modelling of phase diagrams using the CALPHAD method will be the topic of the final part of the lecture.