MTEX is a open-source

MATLAB MATLAB (an abbreviation of "MATrix LABoratory") is a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment developed by MathWorks. MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementat ...

package specifically designed for the analysis of

Electron Backscatter Diffraction Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique used to study the Crystallography, crystallographic structure of materials. EBSD is carried out in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an EBSD d ...

(EBSD) data, which are widely used to analyse the crystallographic orientation of materials at the microscale.

History

The development of MTEX began in 2008, spearheaded by Ralf Hielscher, who aimed to create a user-friendly platform that could facilitate the analysis of large datasets generated by EBSD. The toolbox has since evolved, incorporating various features that allow for the manipulation and visualisation of crystallographic data. EBSD allows for the mapping of crystallographic orientations in materials, providing insights into their microstructural properties. The integration of EBSD with MATLAB through MTEX has enabled researchers to perform advanced analyses, such as

orientation distribution function In materials science and related fields, crystallographic texture is the distribution of crystallographic orientations of a polycrystalline sample. A sample in which these orientations are fully random or is amorphous and thus no crystallographi ...

(ODF) calculations, pole figure plotting, calculation of

anisotropic Anisotropy () is the structural property of non-uniformity in different directions, as opposed to isotropy. An anisotropic object or pattern has properties that differ according to direction of measurement. For example, many materials exhibit ver ...

physical properties from texture data, and

grain boundary In materials science, a grain boundary is the interface between two grains, or crystallites, in a polycrystalline material. Grain boundaries are two-dimensional defects in the crystal structure, and tend to decrease the electrical and thermal c ...

and grain reconstruction, which are crucial for understanding the mechanical properties of materials, as the

crystallographic texture In materials science and related fields, crystallographic texture is the distribution of crystallographic orientations of a polycrystalline sample. A sample in which these orientations are fully random or is amorphous and thus no crystallographi ...

can significantly influence their behaviour under stress. Moreover, the open-source nature of MTEX has fostered a collaborative environment among researchers, allowing for continuous improvements and updates to the toolbox. This community-driven approach has led to the incorporation of new features and functionalities. MTEX's versatility is further demonstrated by its application across various fields, including

geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

metallurgy Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their inter-metallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are known as alloys. Metallurgy encompasses both the ...

, and

materials science Materials science is an interdisciplinary field of researching and discovering materials. Materials engineering is an engineering field of finding uses for materials in other fields and industries. The intellectual origins of materials sci ...

. In geological studies, for instance, MTEX has been used to analyse the crystallographic orientation of minerals, providing insights into their formation processes and the conditions under which they evolved. Similarly, in metallurgy, researchers have employed MTEX to investigate the effects of processing methods on the texture and grain boundary characteristics of alloys, which are critical for optimising their mechanical properties. The toolbox has also been instrumental in advancing the understanding of deformation mechanisms in materials. By analysing EBSD data with MTEX, researchers can elucidate the relationship between microstructural features and mechanical behaviour, such as strain localisation and phase transformations during deformation.

References

{{Electron microscopy 2008 software Crystallography software Free science software MATLAB software Software using the GNU General Public License