Smoothing and validity of crystallite-size distributions from X-ray line-profile analysis

A smoothing procedure is described which eliminates spurious details on crystallite-size distribution functions deduced from X-ray line profiles. It is based on a least-squares process with a stabilization scheme and is applied to composite specimens prepared by mixing known quantities of samples of nickel hydroxide, whose crystallite size-distribution functions were previously determined. Calculated and observed distributions and average sizes are compared. The results are reasonably good and show the self-consistency of the method.