Texture Characterisation in X-Ray Powder Diffraction using the March Formula

Abstract Texture, i.e. preferred orientation (PO), of crystallites can cause serious systematic errors in quantitative analysis of crystalline materials using x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data. The singleparameter model of March (1932), proposed by Dollase (1986) for use in powder diffractometry is a promising mathematical formalism for correcting PO in XRPD analysis of uniaxially-oriented specimens. O'Connor et al. (1991) successfully applied the March formula in applying preferred orientation corrections for gibbsites, Al(OH) 3 , using Rietveld pattern-fitting and a line ratio method in which corrections are determined according to the intensity ratios of selected lines. The paper gives an appraisal of the general applicability of the methods considered by Li and O'Connor with particular reference to powder diffraction data for gibbsite, molybdite (MoO 3 ), calcite (CaCO 3 ) and kaolinite specimens. It is shown that some caution should be exercised when using the March formula to describe PO in Rietveld analysis.