The high resolving power coupled with the real time capability of the SLAM make it a useful technique for characterization of materials including ceramics. The elastic structure of路ceramics is often dependent upon the details of the fabrication process, e.g., sintering, hot pressing, amount of. binder, etc .. Accordingly, acoustic micrographs and acoustic interferograms which reveal characteristic sonic transmission patterns and sonic velocity variations, respectively, can be used to nondestructively evaluate ceramics to ensure material uniformity. In addition, the ability to nondestructively detect flaws and inclusions is important in fracture toughness studies and in the evaluation of finished components
