2017 年 2017 巻 278 号 p. 91-102
The usefulness of image analysis for images observed by microscopy is explained by presenting experimental results on several carbon materials with a discussion on what we can and cannot understand as a result of these analyses. Much useful information is contained in the images. Quantitative information can be obtained from the micrographs by image analysis and the data obtained can be used to compare one sample with another. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and image processing were used for the structural analysis of the side walls of carbon nanotubes. They were also used for the TEM examination of disordered carbon. The textures of the cross-section of pitch-based carbon fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and image processing. They were also used to analyze the pore shapes of isotropic graphite from optical micrographs. The same image analysis techniques can be used to analyze images obtained by all microscopy methods but the quality of the data obtained depends on the original definition of the image. However, image analysis does not provide a complete picture of the same characteristics and it is most important that it is used together with other analysis methods.