材料與材料分析(Materials and Materials Analysis)

凡具有某種特定性質的物質，可以經由特定的製程，單獨或搭配其他物質，形成特性功能的元件者，統稱為材料。這裡的材料通常指的是固態材料。常用的固態材料分為金屬，陶瓷，半導體，有機材料等四大類。

Any matter with some kinds of characteristics, that can be processed alone or with other matters to be a device having some special functions, is called a material. The material we discussed here is limited to solid state materials. Generally, there are four groups of solid state materials: metals, ceramics, semiconductor, and organics (polymers).

材料分析(material analysis, MA)意指運用科學的儀器和科學的方法，解析材料或元件的顯微結構(組成元素，晶體結構，晶粒大小，晶體缺陷…等等)，找出製程、顯微結構、材料性質三者之間的關聯性。 

Material analysis (MA) means to use both scientific methods and scientific instruments to analyze microstructure, including consistent elements, crystal structure, grain size, crystal defects, …etc., of materials or devices, and find the relationship among process, microstructure, and properties.

圖1. 常用的固態無機材料。(from Google websites)