Two ternary phases, designated τ4 and τ5, were revealed in Al–Ti–Pt. The τ4-phase with equiatomic composition (i.e., AlTiPt) was found to have a hexagonal structure with a=4.3908(9) Å and c=5.4823(10) Å (space group P63/mmc), and the τ5-phase, forming in a compositional range between ∼Al14Ti58Pt28 and Al21Ti63Pt16, has a tetragonal structure (possible space groups P42nm, P-4n2, and P42/mnm). The refined lattice parameters for Al15Ti60Pt25 are a=9.7019(20) Å and c=5.0231(13)Å.

The effect of calcination temperature during the formation of the solid solution Sn0.9Ti0.1O2 doped with 1.00 mol % CoO and 0.05 mol % Nb2O5 is presented. The structural characteristics of this system were studied using X-ray diffraction, and the changes in phase formation were analyzed using the Rietveld method. With an increase in calcination temperature, there is increasing miscibility of Ti into the (Ti,Sn)O2 phase and near 1000 °C, and the remaining TiO2 (anatase) was transformed into the rutile phase. The sintering process, monitored using dilatometry, suggests two mass transport mechanisms, one activated close to 900 °C associated with the presence of TiO2 (anatase) and the second mechanism, occurring between 1200 and 1300 °C, is attributed to a faster grain boundary diffusion caused by oxygen vacancies.

Dislocation model of strain anisotropy is presented. The dislocation theorem of strain broadening is suggested which means that strain broadening can only be caused by dislocation-type lattice defects. Based on this theorem strain anisotropy is modeled and accounted for by assuming that strain broadening is caused by dislocations or dislocation-type lattice defects. The effect of strain anisotropy is summarized in hkl dependent dislocation contrast factors, which can be either averaged over the permutations of hkl indices or are different for each different reflection. The dislocation model of strain anisotropy provides a powerful tool to analyze slip activity, Burgers vector populations, and plasticity on the basis of line profile analysis.

A new ternary compound Al0.35GdGe2 has been synthesized and studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction technique. The ternary compound Al0.35GdGe2 crystallizes in the orthorhombicwith the CeNiSi2 structure type (space group Cmcm, a=4.0874(2) Å, b=16.1499(5) Å,c=3.9372(1) Å, Z=4, and Dcalc=8.007 g/cm3).

Reported results for four new cubic compounds NdMMgMn2O6 (M=Li, Na, K, Cs) are questionable and cast doubt on the existence of such compounds. The lattice constants and relative intensities are essentially the same regardless of the nature of M; the X-ray diffraction patterns may be indexed with the lattice constants divided by √8, which result in much better figures of merit and a=0.3861 to 0.3883 nm, close to the subcell parameter of non-stoichiometric pseudocubic NdMnO3.

Corrections are made to two equations and one table value in “Thermal expansion of anatase and rutile between 300 and 575 K using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction” [Powder Diffr. 22, 352–357 (2007)].

In situ X-ray diffraction was used to study the interactions of the PNNL G18 fuel cell sealing glasses with the oxides that form on candidate interconnect alloys and with the ebrite alloy. Experiments under 4% hydrogen and air at temperatures up to 1000 °C showed that the sealant reacts rapidly with alumina and chromia, but not with NiO. The crystallization of the high-CTE phase BaCrO4 was noted for G18 in contact with chromia or ebrite under air, but reducing conditions inhibit the crystallization. The reactions in all cases begin within a few hours at temperatures above 800 °C and go to completion or near completion after ∼12 h.

Crystal structure of compositionally homogeneous, nanocrystalline ZrO2–CeO2 solutions was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction as a function of temperature for compositions between 50 and 65 mol % CeO2. ZrO2-50 and 60 mol % CeO2 solid solutions, which exhibit the t′-form of the tetragonal phase at room temperature, transform into the cubic phase in two steps: t′-to-t″ followed by t″-to-cubic. But the ZrO2-65 mol % CeO2, which exhibits the t″-form, transforms directly to the cubic phase. The results suggest that t′-to-t″ transition is of first order, but t″-to-cubic seems to be of second order.

Rhombohedral-cubic transformation in Bi2Te3 doped-Pb1−xGexTe alloys is presented. Samples of Bi2Te3 doped Pb1−xGexTe were prepared by powder metallurgy approach. These powder samples were examined by high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy. A bulk (pressed powder) cylindrical specimen was used for dilatometery characterizations. According to the XRD examinations it seems that upon increasing the temperatures a continuous transformation occurs from the rhombohedral to the cubic phase, accompanied by the formation of a small amount of the phase Ge0.74Pb3.26Te4.

The pearlitic reaction in Cu-10wt%Al alloy with additions of 4, 6, 8, and 10wt%Ag was studied using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, in situ X-ray diffractometry, and microhardness measurements. The results indicated that the presence of Ag changes the pearlitic phase microstructure and its mechanical properties, because of the influence of Ag in the pearlitic phase growth mechanism.

An anisotropic line broadening study of CuO is reported. X-ray powder diffraction line width modifications observed are modeled when comparing data coming from (1) commercial analytical grade CuO, (2) energetic ball milling sample for 1 h, and (3) samples prepared by thermally annealing the ball milled sample at various temperatures. X-ray powder diffraction data from commercial and produced samples were analyzed by the Rietveld method using a pseudo-Voigt function. Different assumptions including size and strain anisotropy were tried to improve pattern fitting. An anisotropic strain broadening, modeled using Stephens’ approximation, yielded the best fit, thus indicating that strain anisotropy is the main source of the departure from a smooth function of line broadening as a function of 2θ observed in all samples.

Quantitative comparisons between patterns from PDF-4 and experimental data using the Integral Index method are presented. The software integrated into the PDF-4 (DDView+) provides the ability to calculate fully digitized diffraction patterns for all 272,232 entries (PDF-4+ 2007). To provide a means of quantitative comparison between entries in the Power Diffraction File (PDF) and experimental data obtained in the laboratory, data filtering using Boolean logic has been used to reduce the size of the comparison set. Within this comparison set, we have used the Integral Index method to provide quantitative comparisons between digitized patterns obtained from the PDF-4 and experimental data. The quantitative aspects facilitate total pattern matching, that is, selecting the pattern in the PDF-4 that most closely matches input experimental data. Several examples will be used to illustrate the pattern matching process and the utility of this approach will be examined.