Multi-scale tomography for characterisation of metals

01.01.2009 - 31.03.2011
Research funding project
Determination of the 3-dimensional (3D) distribution of heterogeneities and structures is an issue of primary concern in the field of material characterisation and quality control. The quantitative description of heterogeneities is a prerequisite for evaluating their effects and their potential for strengthening or degradation. The knowledge of size, shape, location and arrangement of heterogeneities allows to evaluate the quality of materials and work pieces. To date, X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is the method to measure inner or hidden structures without destroying the specimen. The different size scales of the heterogeneities and of the affected material volume require appropriate tomographic methods and resolutions, such as industrial XCT, microfocus X-ray tomography, nanofocus XCT, synchrotron tomography, or destructive focussed ion beam tomography FIBT. The indicated resolution limits scale with the maximum transmitted distance, which limits the specimen size to about 1000x resolution limit. Application related 3D characterisation of structural materials therefore requires multi-scale tomography, tested by the following tasks: · Dendritic and interdendritic structures in aluminium-alloys; inclusions and pores of different number densities in cast carbon steel; pores and their connectivity in sintered iron-base alloys; 3D architecture of reinforcements in copper matrix composites and damage mechanisms. · Verification of microstructural features detected by XCT and of contrast-simulations by correlation with the results of destructive sectioning methods (target metallography, FIBT). · Correlation of different methods for image processing and further development where needed to choose the appropriate image recording and evaluation parameters. · Investigation of the complementarity of the results of µ-XCT, nano-XCT, s-XCT and FIBT exploiting the latest developments in tomographic methods and instruments.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Research focus

  • Media Informatics and Visual Computing: 10%
  • Photonics: 5%
  • Structure-Property Relationsship: 35%
  • Materials Characterization: 40%
  • Modeling and Simulation: 10%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
MaterialwissenschaftMaterials Science
Hierarchie der Materialinhomogenitäthierarchy of material inhomogeneity
3D-Charakterisierung3D-Characterisation

External partner

  • FH OÖ Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH

Publications