Characteristic grain size: Part II measuring principles

Abstract

The principles for measuring characteristic grain sizes of materials, such as fully-dense single phase materials, porous materials and materials with isolated second phase particles, are developed on the basis of its definition associated closely with the surface area per unit volume, Sv, of grain. The focus of the measuring principles of the characteristic grain size is put on determining Sv of grains. Unlike the measurement of average grain size commonly used, G, correcting factors such as grain shape and grain size distribution factors, will not be applied to the determination of the characteristic grain size, Gc, due to its unique geometric meaning and the measure precision of Sv being guaranteed by quantitative stereological technique and gas adsorption method. The measurement of Gc can be directly carried out on the polished and etched cross section of materials, similar to the measurement of the average grain size using the Heyn intercept method.