Optimization of the strategy for the quantitative phase analysis of ceramic materials using the rietveld method

In this space of work we describe the optimization of the strategy and times for the quantitative phase analysis of ceramic materials using the Rietveld method in order to accomplish a routinary technique for ceramic laboratories equipped with an X-ray powder diffraction instrumentation. We reduced the data collection, reduction and processing times. The time of the data collection was significantly shortened although the statistics was kept good enough to give reliable estimates on the calculated weights of the crystalline phases. The sinergy between the Rietveld method and the chemical analysis results in a full characterization of the ceramic raw materials and products. This work is the outcome of a partnership project involving an academic institution (The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) and an industrial Laboratory (the "Modena Centro Prove").