Methods for investigating local textures
Texture and anisotropy of polycrystalline materials. Kiluchi diffraction patterns and orientation microscopy

Stereology, based on optical microscopy, but traditionally disregarding crystal structure, was one of the first attempts to broaden the approach to knowledge of microstructure. The advantages of optical microscopy include:

• wide availability;

• observation of microstructure at low magnification;

• measurement of the shape, size and network of grain boundaries;

• and phase discrimination.

Disadvantages include:

• low resolution;

• and very partial crystallographic information.

The oldest technique for measuring individual crystallite orientations in polycrystalline materials...