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- X-ray refraction (7)
- Phase grating (3)
- Pore orientation (3)
- Porous ceramics (3)
- Computed tomography (2)
- Diesel particulate filters (2)
- Edge artefact (2)
- Huygens elementary waves (2)
- Phase contrast (2)
- Soft matter radiography (2)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
The combination of tomographic, microstructural data with other experimental techniques and with modeling is paramount, if we want to extract the maximum amount of information on material and component properties. In particular, quantitative image analysis, statistical approaches, direct discretization of tomographic reconstructions represent concrete possibilities to extend the power of the tomographic 3D representation to insights into the material and component performance. This logic thread holds equally for industrial and academic research, and valorizes expensive experiments such as those carried out at synchrotron sources, which cannot be daily repeated. We shall show a few examples of possible use of X-ray tomographic data for quantitative assessment of damage evolution and microstructural properties, as well as for non-destructive testing. We will also show how X-ray refraction computed tomography (CT) can be highly complementary to classic absorption CT, being sensitive to internal interfaces.
Bikontinuierliche poröse Keramiken für Filteranwendungen weisen eine komplizierte Mikrostruktur auf, in der Poren und Festkörperphase 'vermischt' sind. Mechanische, thermische sowie Filtereigenschaften können nur präzise bestimmt werden, wenn die Morphologie beider Phasen quantitativ angegeben werden kann. Hier werden unter Anwendung von 3D Computertomographie (CT) und verschiedenen Techniken, die auf der Röntgenrefraktion basieren, die Porosität und die Porenorientierung in keramischen Cordierit-Dieselpartikelfiltern bewertet. Dabei werden zur Auswertung der Tomogramme die Fouriertransformierten sowie eine neu entwickelte richtungssensitive Bildanalyse (DIVA, directional interface variance analysis) angewandt. Sowohl die genannten Messtechniken als auch der statistische Ansatz gestatten die Extraktion optional ortsaufgelöster oder gemittelter Werte. Es ergeben sich sehr gute Übereinstimmungen der experimentell ermittelten Porositätswerte mit Ergebnissen aus Quecksilberintrusionsversuchen als auch der ermittelten Porenorientierung im Vergleich zu publizierten Angaben zur kristallographischen Textur. Dies legt den Schluss nahe, dass die Kenntnis der Grenzflächen (zwischen Poren und Materie) genügt, die morphologischen Eigenschaften solcher Materialien hinreichend zu beschreiben.
Die durch Brechung an Mikrostrukturen abgelenkte Röntgenstrahlung wird direkt zweidimensional abgebildet. Dazu werden Modellproben einfacher Geometrie (Fasern, Kapillaren, monodisperse Nano- und Mikropartikel) mit einem auf 50 µm kollimierten Synchrotronstrahl (20 keV) gescannt. Die nach den Regeln der geometrischen Optik an prismatischen und linsenartigen Grenzflächen abgelenkte Strahlung wird in etwa 3 Metern Entfernung von einem Flächendetektor mit 7 µm Ortsauflösung zusätzlich zu der ungestörten Resttransmission des Primärstrahls registriert. In der Abfolge der Radiogramme werden die lokalen Orientierungsänderungen der Probekörper-Grenzflächen bei deren Abtastung mit wenigen Mikrometern Schrittweite bildhaft verfolgt. Mit der hier erreichten Winkelauflösung von etwa 3 Bogensekunden (Streuvektor-Inkremente Δk = 10-3nm-1) kann bei 50 µm Ortsauflösung das Materialvolumen bezüglich innerer Grenzflächen mit Nanometer-Separation auch bei hohen Abtastraten unterhalb einer Sekunde pro Bild charakterisiert werden.
For the first time we present direct 2D imaging of refracted X-rays without any discrimination of the Primary radiation. X-refraction works in analogy to visible light optics: X-rays are entirely deflected at interfaces where discontinuities of (electron) density occur. This is demonstrated at the example of inner and outer surfaces of model samples of well-defined geometry (fibres, capillaries, and monodisperse micro particles). The samples are scanned through a 50 μm monochromatic (20 keV) pencil beam. In order to warrant a sufficient angular resolution a 2D detector (pixel size 7 μm) is placed 3 m downstream of the sample. Scanning the sample in micron steps allows for detecting local changes of interface / surface orientation directly in two dimensions. At the actual angular resolution of about 3 seconds of arc (scattering vector increments Δk = 10-3 nm-1) and 50 μm spatial resolution (scanning) the material’s inner surfaces (with nanometer separation) can be characterized even at sampling rates below 1 second per frame. Moreover, our technique is suited to directly determine particle diameters of up to 250 nm by means of diffraction fringes. Some potential applications to technical submicron structures are discussed.
Evaluating porosity in cordierite diesel particulate filter materials, part 1 X-ray refraction
(2013)
Bi-continuous porous ceramics for filtration applications possess a particularly complicated microstructure, with porosity and solid matter being intermingled. Mechanical, thermal, and filtration properties can only be precisely estimated if the morphology of both solid matter and porosity can be quantitatively determined. Using x-ray absorption and refraction, we quantitatively evaluate porosity and pore orientation in cordierite diesel particulate filter ceramics. Porosity values turn out to agree with mercury intrusion measurements, while pore orientation factors agree with published crystallographic texture data.
Bi-continuous porous ceramics for filtration applications possess a particularly complicated microstructure, whereby porosity and solid matter are intermingled. Mechanical, thermal, and filtration properties can only be precisely estimated if the morphology of both solid matter and porosity can be quantitatively determined. Using 3D computed tomography (CT) at different resolutions, and several X-ray refraction-based techniques, we quantitatively evaluated porosity and pore orientation in cordierite diesel particulate filter ceramics.Moreover, applying both Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and a newly developed image analysis algorithm (directional interface variance analysis, DIVA), we quantitatively evaluated porosity and pore orientation. Both the experimental techniques and the statistical approach allow extraction of spatially resolved or average values.Porosity values from synchrotron computed tomography used turn out to agree with mercury intrusion measurements, while pore orientation factors agree with published crystallographic texture data. This latter point also implies that the study of the pore/matter interface is sufficient to describe the morphological properties of these materials.
3D imaging techniques are very fashionable nowadays, and allow enormous progress in understanding ceramic microstructure, its evolution, and its link to mechanical, thermal, and transport properties. In this feature article, we report the use of a powerful, yet not so wide-spread, set of X-ray techniques based on refraction effects. X-ray refraction allows determining internal specific surface (surface per unit volume) in a non-destructive fashion, position and orientation sensitive, and with a nanometric detectability. While the techniques are limited by the X-ray absorption of the material under investigation, we demonstrate showcases of ceramics and composite materials, where understanding of process parameter influence or simply of microstructural parameters could be achieved in a way unrivalled even by high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy or computed tomography.
3D Crack analysis in hydrogen charged lean duplex stainless steel with synchrotron refraction CT
(2016)
Hydrogen in metals can cause a degradation of the mechanical properties, the so-called hydrogen embrittlement. In combination with internal stresses, hydrogen assisted cracking (HAC) can occur. This phenomenon is not completely understood yet. To better characterise the cracking behaviour, it is important to gain information about the evolution of the 3D crack network. For this purpose samples of lean duplex stainless steel were loaded with hydrogen by means of electrochemical charging and investigated by means of synchrotron refraction CT and SEM fractography after uniaxial tensile loading. Synchrotron refraction CT is an analyser-based imaging (ABI) technique. It uses a Si (111) single crystal as analyser, which is placed into the beam path between sample and detector. According to Bragg’s law only incident x-rays within a narrow range around the Bragg-angle are diffracted from the analyser into the detector. Hence, the analyser acts as an angular filter for the transmitted beam. This filtering allows to turn the refraction and scattering of x-rays into image contrast. Refraction occurs at all interfaces, where the density of the material changes and is more sensitive to density changes than the attenuation. Therefore, it is possible to detect smaller cracks than with classical x-ray imaging techniques, like CT, with comparable spacial resolution. It also visualises the 3D structure of the cracks and gains quantitative information about their morphology and distribution. Since cracks introduced by HAC are usually very small and have a small opening displacement, synchrotron refraction CT is expected to be well suited for imaging this cracking mechanism and can be a valuable tool to characterise the formation and the evolution of a 3D crack network.
In order to investigate their microcracking behaviour, the microstructures of several β-eucryptite ceramics, obtained from glass precursor and cerammed to yield different grain sizes and microcrack densities, were characterized by laboratory and synchrotron x-ray refraction and tomography. Results were compared with those obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In SEM images, the characterized materials appeared fully dense but computed tomography showed the presence of pore clusters. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed on specimens while strain maps were recorded and analyzed by Digital Image Correlation (DIC). X-ray refraction techniques were applied on specimens before and after tensile testing to measure the amount of the internal specific surface (i.e., area per unit volume). X-ray refraction revealed that (a) the small grain size (SGS) material contained a large specific surface, originating from the grain boundaries and the interfaces of TiO2 precipitates; (b) the medium (MGS) and large grain size (LGS) materials possessed higher amounts of specific surface compared to SGS material due to microcracks, which decreased after tensile loading; (c) the precursor glass had negligible internal surface. The unexpected decrease in the internal surface of MGS and LGS after tensile testing is explained by the presence of compressive regions in the DIC strain maps and further by theoretical arguments. It is suggested that while some microcracks merge via propagation, more close mechanically, thereby explaining the observed X-ray refraction results. The mechanisms proposed would allow the development of a strain hardening route in ceramics.