Abstract

The texture is defined as the orientation distribution of the crystallites in a polycrystalline material. This definition is the same for all kinds of materials. Also the motivation for texture studies is the same in all materials i.e. the formation of textures by anisotropic solid state process and the influence of textures on anisotropic physical or technological properties. Nevertheless, there are some differences in detail between texture analysis in metals and ceramics. These are mainly due to the more complex nature of diffraction diagrams of ceramics as compared to those of the basic metals. The aggravations of texture analysis in ceramics can, however, be overcome by modern experimental techniques e.g. by using a position sensitive detector. Texture analysis in ceramics has also been carried out by microscopical methods. The so obtained “shape texture” is related to the crystallographic texture by a “habitus” function. The particular conditions for texture analysis in cermics are very similar to those encountered in geological materials.