Laboratory high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction

Abstract

Abstract Phase transitions can be most effectively studied by X-ray powder diffraction. Modern developments in instrumentation, particularly in Position Sensitive Detectors allow a wider range of samples and conditions to be studied in the laboratory. A brief survey of modern commercial systems is given and the system in our laboratory is described in more detail: a Siemens D500, Braun PSD and GTP furnace system is capable of studying samples at temperatures up to 1000°C and typically collect patterns in a matter of a few minutes. The instrumental limitations are discussed and a range of examples of studies of industrial material is used to illustrate the potential for such methods.