Customer Reviews

Elements of X-Ray Diffraction (3rd Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The 2nd Edition of "Elements of X-ray Diffraction" by B.D. Cullity ranks among the best introductory books ever written on the subject. When I bought this 3rd edition I hoped to obtain a book of similar standards. However, exchanging chapter titles (to less meaningful descriptors) and a mere renumbering of chapters and appendices (leaving nearly the complete body of the 2nd edition unchanged) was far from my expectations. I have sincere doubts, if the few brief sections added in this 3rd edition provide much useful information for a newcomer. Somehow, I feel they destroy the integrity of an old well-written text. Above all the publisher obviously did a poor job: The pages with "Chapter references" were completely lost somehow (they amounted to 9 pages in the 2nd edition) and are dearly missed whenever a reader wants to dwell a little bit deeper into the subject and use the citations provided in the text. If you want to go for a good introductory text on X-ray diffraction then choose the 2nd edition. Although based on knowledge of the sixties, and thus slightly old-fashioned, it still makes the point in a consistent and scholarly way. Let's hope the 2nd edition will be available for some time.

Cullity's expostion of x-ray diffraction is excellent, but the third edition, as noted by other reviewers, is missing all chapter specific references. If you're interested in this title, try to find a copy of the second edition.

The second edition of Cullity's text is a classic. It was an extremely useful book for experimentalists who have to use x-ray diffraction to study solid state materials. It did not have a lot of theory, but gave very clear explanations of the concepts and methods needed to apply this powerful characterization technique. After studying at least part of this book you could go to the lab, set up and use a diffractometer or camera, and interpret the results. I thought it would have been great to have an updated edition, incorporating the many advances since that edition from three decades ago - and there have been many.

Unfortunatelly, this was not to be. The third edition has made a hash of the clear exposition which was Cullity's strength. I teach courses in Solid State Physics and Thin Film Physics. When recommending references on XRD to my students, and particularly to graduate students who work with me, I advise them to stay away from the third edition of this book and use instead particular chapters of Cullity's second edition for a clear and concise introduction to the subject.

This is an all encompassing book for materials scientist in the field of materials characterization by x-ray diffraction methods. The basic concepts are well explained, as in Cullity's other book on magnetic materials. These texts remain the standards despite their age, because of their completeness and clear explanations with pictures. Provided time and effort on reading them, one can become a firm expert in their respective fields. It is more complete than Hammond's introductory book, and better than other newer, more technical books that may omit the basic science and jump right into the new devices not available at the time of the reviewed book's printing.

Cullity's book is, I believe, one of the most interesting books I've ever come across. Let me explain why...if you know diffraction at the level of the Ewald sphere, reciprocal lattice, point and space groups at least, you would realize that Dr. Cullity has very effectively accomplished the task of introducing the reader to almost all applied aspects of x-ray diffraction without ever mentioned the landmarks of the subject! In this book, you would barely find any word on real space vs. reciprocal space, their relationship by the Fourier Transform etc.; the necessary fundamentals are given at such an elementary level, that it requires barely any background beyond Phys 101. In all fairness, to reduce a very complex phenomenon to an easily understandible level certainly requires a lot of creativity as well as competence. The book's first two chapters efficiently summarize what a person needs to know as a bare minimum to later learn the specific techniques to analyze materials by x-ray diffraction. The remainder of the book is devoted to experimental methods which are very effectively presented and thoroughly discussed. To make the long story short, this book is for the handyman not for the scientist whose special interest might be in x-ray crystallography or x-ray diffraction. If you want to have an idea as to what kind of information can be obtained (ranging from lattice parameter determination to quantitative phase analysis) using x-ray diffraction to study of solids, then this book is for you...

Personally, I was very disappointed with the purchase I made. The description of the item was originally described as "almost new" but when I received the book in the mail, I saw that the cover looked very old and unattractive to the reader. Although the inside of the book is decent, I felt that the product was falsely advertised. I'll still use the book only because its the material inside the book that's important but now I feel like I have to REALLY take care of the book.

I used this book for my materials characterization undergrad course. Like most text's I used, I found it lacking examples and was outdated. I searched for a better text and came across "Introduction to Diffraction in Materials Science and Engineering" by Aaron Krawitz. This text does justice to the topic and I would advise any MSE department to adapt it instead of Cullity.

It came as described and was shipped fast. Perfect alternative to buying the newer edition.my prof recommended it and it has worked great. Thanks.

The book I ordered came in a timely fashion and was exactly as described, in very good condition. Would buy from this seller again.

This is the only one text book for XRD characterization I have ever heard. I am studying all by myself. Also, I recommand this if you need to understand all about the X-ray details.