TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Bernd R. A1 - Léonard, Fabien A1 - Lange, Axel A1 - Kupsch, Andreas A1 - Bruno, Giovanni T1 - X-ray refraction techniques for fast, high-resolution microstructure characterization and non-destructive testing of lightweight composites JF - Materials science forum N2 - X-ray refraction is based on optical deflection of X-rays, similar to the well-known small angle X-ray scattering, but hundreds of times more intense, thus enabling shorter measurement time. We show that X-ray refraction techniques are suitable for the detection of pores, cracks, and in general defects. Indeed, the deflected X-ray intensity is directly proportional to the internal specific surface (i.e., surface per unit volume) of the objects. Although single defects cannot be imaged, the presence of populations of those defects can be detected even if the defects have sizes in the nanometer range.We present several applications of X-ray refraction techniques to composite materials:- To visualize macro and microcracks in Ti-SiC metal matrix composites (MMC);- To correlate fatigue damage (fibre de-bonding) of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) to X-ray refraction intensity;- To quantify the impact damage by spatially resolved single fibre de-bonding fraction as a function of impact energy in CFRP laminates.An example of classic high-resolution computer tomography of an impact-damaged CFRP will also be presented, as a benchmark to the present state-of-the-art imaging capabilities. It will be shown that while (absorption) tomography can well visualize and quantify delamination, X-ray refraction techniques directly yield (spatially resolved) quantitative information about fibre de-bonding, inaccessible to absorption tomography. KW - X-ray KW - Synchrotron radiation KW - Refraction KW - Metal matrix composites KW - Delamination KW - Fiber de-bonding PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.825-826.814 SN - 0255-5476 VL - 825-826 SP - 814 EP - 821 PB - Trans Tech Publications CY - Aedermannsdorf, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-33265 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -