Progress in Materials Analysis

Book excerpt: The 11th Colloquium on Metallurgical Analysis - a joint venture of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Technical University in Vienna, the Austrian Society for Analytical Chemistry and Microchemistry, the German Metals Society (DGM), and the Society of German Iron and Steel Engineers (VDEh) - was attended by 120 scientists from 12 nations. The major topics covered were surface, micro and trace analysis of materials with a heavy emphasis on metals. According to the strategy of the meeting attention was focussed on an interdisciplinary approach to materials science - combining analytical chemistry, solid state physics and tech nology. Therefore progress reports on analytical techniques (like SIMS, SNMS, Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy, AES, XPS) were given as well as pre sentations on the development of materials (like for the fusion reactor). The majority of the discussion papers centered on the treatment of important technical problems in materials science and technology by a (mostly sophis ticated) combination of physical and chemical analytical techniques. The intensive exchange of ideas and results between the scientists oriented towards basic research and the industrial materials technologists was very fruitful and resulted in the establishment of several scientific cooperations. Major trends in materials analysis were also dealt with in a plenary discussion of which a short summary is contained in this volume. In order to facilitate international communication in the field of materials analysis and in view of the important questions treated in the various contri butions this proceedings volume was edited in English.