JCPDS-ICDD Research Associateship (Cooperative Program with NBS/NIST).

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Crystallography
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• The Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction-International Centre for Diffraction Data (JCPDS-ICDD, now ICDD) operated a long-standing Research Associateship at NBS/NIST.
• This program fostered over 35 years of successful industry-government cooperation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the history and accomplishments of the JCPDS-ICDD Research Associateship.
• To highlight the creation and impact of high-quality X-ray reference patterns within the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

Main Methods:

• Compilation and publication of X-ray reference patterns for the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).
• Development of standard reference materials (SRMs) for instrument calibration and quantitative analysis.
• Creation of computer software for various aspects of powder diffraction data handling.

Main Results:

• Over 1500 high-quality powder diffraction patterns were published in the PDF, significantly impacting the scientific community.
• Development of essential standard reference materials (SRMs) for calibration and analysis.
• Creation of valuable computer software for data collection, analysis, and editorial processes.

Conclusions:

• The JCPDS-ICDD Research Associateship was a highly successful program with lasting contributions to materials science and crystallography.
• The Powder Diffraction File (PDF) and associated resources significantly advanced the field of powder diffraction analysis.