Laboratory High-Temperature X-Ray-Powder Diffraction

Phase transitions can be most effectively studied by X-ray powder diffraction. Modem developments in instrumentation, particularly in Position Sensitive Detectors allow a wider range of samples and conditions to be studied in the laboratory. A brief survey of modern commercial systems is given and the system in our laboratory is described in more detail: a Siemens D500, Braun PSD and GTP furnace system is capable of studying samples at temperatures up to 1000-degrees-C and typically collect patterns in a matter of a few minutes. The instrumental limitations are discussed and a range of examples of studies of industrial material is used to illustrate the potential for such methods.