Transmission polarised light microscopy of high performance ceramics

Transmission light microscopy is the classic method of investigation used i n mineralogy which can also be used successfully In the examination of high performance ceramics providing that the ceramic has a grain size of at lea st 5 mum. For the optical examination of ceramic materials flat parallel th in sections are required of thickness 5 - 30 mum. The sections are generall y produced with the aid of precision cutting, grinding and polishing machin es. The examination of ceramic thin sections In the transmission polarised ligh t microscope reveals valuable crystallographic and ceramographic informatio n which is not as readily accessible using incident optical techniques. This article demonstrates the main principles by means of a number of examp les.