  This work describes a multidisciplinary research methodology for quantifying
the size distribution of nanoscale precipitates in polycrystalline alloys.
Complementary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle x-ray
scattering (SAXS) are employed in a study of precipitate growth in an
isothermally aged Mg-Zn alloy. TEM is used to identify the precipitate phases
as rod-shaped \beta' particles and to determine their radii and aspect ratio.
Subsequently, SAXS data obtained from bulk quantities of the alloy is
interpreted via a novel Monte-Carlo method to obtain accurate, form-free size
distributions. Good agreement was obtained between particle radii distributions
measured by both methods, exemplifying the applicability of this complementary
methodology to study precipitation in textured alloys containing particles
anisotropic with well-defined orientation-relationships to the matrix.
