Segregation occurs during the dendritic solidification of metals and alloys and is aligned by subsequent deformation. Solid-state transformations may be influenced by the resulting microsegregation pattern leading to development of a layered or banded microstructure.

The most common example of banding is the layered ferrite-pearlite structure of wrought low-carbon and low-carbon alloy steels.The degree of banding of microstructures influences mechanical properties of the materials examined with respect to the deformation direction.

The stereological observation supported by the use of a grid allows to evaluate the degree of banding of the microstructures and, consequently, to get information about the isotropic nature of the material.