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Material Characterization represents many different disciplines depending upon the background of the user. These concepts range from that of the scientist, who thinks of it in atomic terms, to that of the process engineer, who thinks of it in terms of properties, procedures, and quality assurance, to that of the mechanical engineer, who thinks of it in terms of stress distributions and heat transfer. Characterization describes those features of composition and structure (including defects) of a material that are significant for a particular preparation, study of properties, or use, and suffice for reproduction of the material. An important component of the materials engineering methodology involves knowledge of the structure of materials. Typical structure is necessarily viewed through a microscope.... an optical microscope, the electron microscope. The correlation of physical and chemical properties with structural characteristics, production and preparation conditions is of crucial importance for the development of new products and the optimization of existing products. comprehensive knowledge of the material properties of a product under production or application conditions is therefore critical for its success. The dependence of macroscopic product properties on the characteristics of the material on a microscopic level is another important aspect for successful product development and for the solution of production and quality problems. This book provides such a collection of advanced techniques which will be of use to postgraduates, researchers, and faculty in the field of metallurgy and materials science.