V
Preface to the 2nd Edition
The ability to measure and to compare measurements
between laboratories is one of the cornerstones of the
scientific method. Globalization of research, develop-
ment and manufacture has produced greatly increased
attention to international standards of measurement. It
is no longer sufficient to achieve internal consistency
in measurements within a local laboratory or manufac-
turing facility; measurements must now be able to be
reproduced accurately anywhere in the world.
These demands are especially intense in materials
science and technology, where many characterization
methods are needed during the various stages of ma-
terials and product cycles. In order for new materials
to be used and incorporated into practical technology,
their most important characteristics must be known
well enough to justify large research and development
costs. The useful properties of materials are gener-
ally responses to external fields or loads under specific
conditions. The stimulus field and environmental condi-
tions must be completely specified in order to develop
a reproducible response, and to obtain reliable charac-
teristics and data. Standard test and calibration methods
describe these conditions and the Springer Handbook
of Materials Measurement Methods was developed to
assist scientists and engineers in both industry and
academe in this task.
In this second edition of the handbook, we have
responded to reader’s requests for a more complete
treatment of the internationally recognized formal
metrology system. The book title has been changed to
reflect this emphasis and the handbook organized in
five parts: (A) Fundamentals of Metrology and Testing,
(B) Chemical and Microstructural Analysis, (C) Ma-
terials Properties Measurement, (D) Materials Perfor-
Horst Czichos
Tetsuya Saito
Leslie Smith
mance Testing, (E)Modeling and Sim-
ulation Methods. The initial chap-
ters are new and present, inter alia:
•
Methodologies of measurement
and testing, conformity assess-
ment and accreditation
•
Metrology principles and orga-
nization
•
Quality in measurement and
testing, including measurement
uncertainty and accuracy.
All the remaining chapters have
been brought up to date by the same
distinguished international experts
that produced the first edition.
The editors wish again to ac-
knowledge the critical support and
constant encouragement of the Pub-
lisher. In particular, Dr. Hubertus
von Riedesel encouraged us greatly
with the original concept and Dr.
Werner Skolaut has done the techni-
cal editing to the highest standards
of professional excellence. Finally,
throughout the entire development
of the handbook we were greatly
aided by the able administrative
support of Ms Daniela Tied.
May 2011
Horst Czichos Berlin
Tetsuya Saito Tsukuba
Leslie Smith Washington