ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the methods used for the surface chemical characterization of ceramic powders. A wide variety of methods is available allowing the ceramist to characterize the elemental composition of powder surfaces, the chemistry of functional surface groups, and the interactions at the solid-gas and solid-liquid interface. Some of these methods, such as infrared spectroscopy and electrokinetic characterization, have existed for many years. The chapter provides an insight and stimulates an understanding of the need for more thorough surface characterization and control of ceramic powders. Information about the elemental composition of ceramic powder surfaces can be obtained by a wide range of analytical techniques. The three surface analysis techniques that currently have the greatest potential for, or are already used for, inorganic powder characterization are Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, also called X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
