Quantitative metallographic characterization of cubo-spherical particles

Abstract A stereological characterization is given of a series of solid bodies, named cubo-spheres, defined by the inner envelope of intersection of a concentric cube and sphere. By varying the ratio of sphere radius and cube edge length, a continuous series of bodies from faceted spheres to rounded cubes are created. Such shapes provide a convenient model of particles in microstructures and powders. Computer-simulated sectioning was used to derive important stereological size and shape parameters as a function of shape of the cubo-sphere. This included the generation of section parameter frequency distributions that can be used, for example, as the basis of particle size analysis.