Filtern
Dokumenttyp
- Zeitschriftenartikel (29)
- Vortrag (5)
- Posterpräsentation (3)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (1)
Sprache
- Englisch (38) (entfernen)
Schlagworte
- X-ray refraction (18)
- Additive manufacturing (5)
- Synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (5)
- BAMline (4)
- Computed tomography (4)
- Creep (4)
- Damage evolution (4)
- Damage (3)
- Microcracking (3)
- Aluminium alloys (2)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 8.5 Röntgenbildgebung (38) (entfernen)
Paper des Monats
- ja (1)
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (5)
The hard X-ray beamline BAMline at BESSY II (Berlin, Germany) has now been in service for 20 years. Several improvements have been implemented in this time, and this review provides an overview of the imaging methods available at the BAMline. Besides classic full-field synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (SXCT), also absorption edge CT, synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR), and synchrotron X-ray refraction tomography (SXRCT) are used for imaging. Moreover, virtually any of those techniques are currently coupled in situ or operando with ancillary equipment such as load rigs, furnaces, or potentiostats. Each of the available techniques is explained and both the current and the potential usage are described with corresponding examples. The potential use is manifold, the examples cover organic materials, composite materials, energy-related materials, biological samples, and materials related to additive manufacturing. The article includes published examples as well as some unpublished applications.
Porosity in additively manufactured materials, such as laser powder bed fusion Ti-Al6-V4, can play an important role in their mechanical performance. Not only the total porosity but also the shape/morphology of the individual pores need to be considered. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the distributions of different defect types (especially fusing defects and keyhole pores) and their dependence on process parameters. We show that synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography allows analysis of large samples (up to several millimeters) without compromising the detectability of submicrometer defects. Correspondingly, a classification tool is introduced that is able to quantitatively distinguish defects such as keyhole pores and binding defects with a confidence level of 94 %, even when the shape cannot be discerned because of limited spatial resolution.
High-density polyethylene becomes optically transparent during tensile drawing when previously saturated with diesel fuel. This unusual phenomenon is investigated as it might allow conclusions with respect to the material behavior. Microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, density measurements are applied together with two scanning X-ray scattering techniques: wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and X-ray refraction, able to extract the spatially resolved crystal orientation and internal surface, respectively. The sorbed diesel softens the material and significantly alters the yielding characteristics. Although the crystallinity among stretched regions is similar, a virgin reference sample exhibits strain whitening during stretching, while the diesel-saturated sample becomes transparent. The WAXS results reveal a pronounced fiber texture in the tensile direction in the stretched region and an isotropic orientation in the unstretched region. This texture implies the formation of fibrils in the stretched region, while spherulites remain intact in the unstretched parts of the specimens. X-ray refraction reveals a preferred orientation of internal surfaces along the tensile direction in the stretched region of virgin samples, while the sample stretched in the diesel-saturated state shows no internal surfaces at all. Besides from stretching saturated samples, optical transparency is also obtained from sorbing samples in diesel after stretching.
Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) is an advanced digital radiographic imaging technique employing the refraction of X-rays to contrast internal interfaces. This study aims at qualitatively and quantitatively evaluating images acquired using this technique and to assess how different fitting functions to the typical rocking curves (RCs) influence the quality of images. RCs are obtained for every image pixel. This allows the separate determination of the absorption and the refraction properties of the material in a position-sensitive manner. Comparison of various types of fitting functions reveals that the Pseudo-Voigt (PsdV) function is best suited to fit typical RCs. A robust algorithm was developed in the Python programming language, which reliably extracts the physically meaningful information from each pixel of the image. We demonstrate the potential of the algorithm with two specimens: a silicone gel specimen that has well-defined interfaces, and an additively manufactured polycarbonate specimen.
The lecture gives an overview of the core competencies of the department 8.5 Micro NDT (CT equipment, X-Ray Refraction, WAXS - Texture analysis, Data correction, Reconstruction algorithms, Image analysis, Dimensional control, Multi-Source Data Fusion and Combination, Micromechanical Properties by Neutron Diffraction) with regard to the characterization of lightweight materials (fibre composites, aluminum and titanium MMCs) used in aviation. The focus is on characterization by synchrotron and X-ray refraction techniques as well as computed tomography.
The stability of the low thermal conductivity in Fe2TiO5 pseudobrookite ceramics has been studied. An increase in thermal diffusivity is observed after only three cycles of measurement. X-ray refraction shows an increase in the mean value of specific surface after the thermal diffusivity measurements. By using scanning electron microscopy and high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, we observe a segregation of Ca- and F-rich nanocrystals at grain boundaries after three cycles of thermal diffusivity measurement. Therefore, impurities seem to be more efficient to scatter phonons as point defects in the pseudobrookite lattice rather than as nanocrystals at pseudobrookite grain boundaries. This emphasizes the importance of precursor purity and the influence of redistribution of impurities on thermoelectric properties: stability of micro-/nano-structures is a key point, and repeated thermoelectric measurements may allow detecting such metastable micro- /nano-structures and producing stable and reliable data.
In order to provide further evidence of damage mechanisms predicted by the recent solid-state transformation creep (SSTC) model, direct observation of damage accumulation during creep of Al–3.85Mg was made using synchrotron X-ray refraction. X-ray refraction techniques detect the internal specific surface (i.e. surface per unit volume) on a length scale comparable to the specimen size, but with microscopic sensitivity. A significant rise in the internal specific surface with increasing creep time was observed, providing evidence for the creation of a fine grain substructure, as predicted by the SSTC model. This substructure was also observed by scanning electron microscopy
In order to provide further evidence of damage mechanisms predicted by the solid-state transformation creep (SSTC) model, direct observation of damage accumulation during creep of Al–3.85Mg was made using synchrotron X-ray refraction (SXRR). X-ray refraction techniques capture the specific surface (i.e. surface per unit volume) with a field of view comparable to the specimen size but with microscopic sensitivity. A significant rise of the internal specific surface with increasing creep time was observed, providing evidence for the creation of a fine grain substructure, as predicted by the SSTC model.
Modern air-liners and wind turbine rotor blades are made up primarily of fiber reinforced plastics. Failure of these materials heavily impairs the serviceability and the operational safety. Consequently, knowledge of the failure behavior under static and cyclic loads is of great interest to estimate the operational strength and to compare the performance of different materials. Ideally, the damage evolution under operational load is determined with in situ non-destructive testing techniques. Here, we report in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging of tensile stress induced cracks in carbon fiber reinforced plastics due to inter-fiber failure. An inhouse designed compact tensile testing machine with a load range up to 15 kN was integrated into the beamline. Since conventional radiographs do not reveal sufficient contrast to distinguish cracks due to inter-fiber failure and micro cracking from fiber bundles, the Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI) technique is applied in order to separate primary and scattered (refracted) radiation by means of an analyzer crystal. This technique allows fast measurements over large fields-of-view and is ideal for in-situ investigations. Imaging and the tensile test are run at the highest possible frame rate (0.7 s-1 ) and the lowest possible strain rate (5.5∙10-4 s -1 ). For 0°/90° non-crimp fabrics, the first inter-fiber cracks occur at 380 MPa (strain 0.8 %). Prior to failure at about 760 MPa (strain 2.0 %), we observe the evolution of nearly equidistant (1 mm distance) cracks running across the entire sample in the fully damaged state.
While structural ceramics usually display a brittle mechanical behavior, their composites may show nonlinearities, mostly due to microcracking. Herein, the stiffness evolution of a sandwich-like laminate of an Al2O3 15%vol. ZrO2 matrix reinforced with Nextel 610 fibers is studied as a function of number of cycles N in tension. The stiffness of the composite degrades with increasing N, indicating microcracking. However, synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography shows that the internal specific surface of such cracks varies differently. A modeling strategy is developed for the calculation of the equivalent stiffness of mixtures (first the matrix and then the sandwich), based on the Voigt and Reuß schemes. The Bruno–Kachanov model is then used to estimate the initial microcrack density in the matrix (due to the thermal expansion mismatch) and the amount of microcracking increase upon cyclic loading. The stiffness in the composite degrades dramatically already after 20 000 cycles but then remains nearly constant. The combination of mechanical testing, quantitative imaging analysis, and modeling provides insights into the damage mechanisms acting: microcrack propagation is more active than microcrack initiation upon cyclic loading, but the second also occurs. This scenario is similar but not equal to previous results on porous and microcracked ceramics.
Degradation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in gas‐turbine engines due to calcium–magnesium–aluminosilicate (CMAS) glassy deposits from various sources has been a persistent issue since many years. In this study, state of the art electron microscopy was correlated with X‐ray refraction techniques to elucidate the intrusion of CMAS into the porous structure of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) TBCs and the formation and growth of cracks under thermal cycling in a burner rig. Results indicate that the sparse nature of the infiltration as well as kinetics in the burner rig are majorly influenced by the wetting behavior of the CMAS. Despite the obvious attack of CMAS on grain boundaries, the interaction of yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with intruded CMAS has no immediate impact on structure and density of internal surfaces. At a later stage the formation of horizontal cracks is observed in a wider zone of the TBC layer.
Degradation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in gas‐turbine engines due to calcium–magnesium–aluminosilicate (CMAS) glassy deposits from various sources has been a persistent issue since many years. In this study, state of the art electron microscopy was correlated with X‐ray refraction techniques to elucidate the intrusion of CMAS into the porous structure of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) TBCs and the formation and growth of cracks under thermal cycling in a burner rig. Results indicate that the sparse nature of the infiltration as well as kinetics in the burner rig are majorly influenced by the wetting behavior of the CMAS. Despite the obvious attack of CMAS on grain boundaries, the interaction of yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with intruded CMAS has no immediate impact on structure and density of internal surfaces. At a later stage the formation of horizontal cracks is observed in a wider zone of the TBC layer.
Zirconia-based cast refractories are widely used for glass furnace applications. Since they have to withstand harsh chemical as well as thermo-mechanical environments, internal stresses and microcracking are often present in such materials under operating conditions (sometimes in excess of 1700 °C). We studied the evolution of thermal (CTE) and mechanical (Young’s modulus) properties as a function of temperature in a fused-cast refractory containing 94 wt.% of monoclinic ZrO2 and 6 wt.% of a silicate glassy phase. With the aid of X-ray refraction techniques (yielding the internal specific surface in materials), we also monitored the evolution of microcracking as a function of thermal cycles (crossing the martensitic phase transformation around 1000 °C) under externally applied stress. We found that external compressive stress leads to a strong decrease of the internal surface per unit volume, but a tensile load has a similar (though not so strong) effect. In agreement with existing literature on -eucryptite microcracked ceramics, we could explain These phenomena by microcrack closure in the load direction in the compression case, and by microcrack propagation (rather than microcrack nucleation) under tensile conditions.
The morphology of the antennal hearts in the head of Phasmatodea and Embioptera was investigated with particular reference to phylogenetically relevant key taxa. The antennal circulatory organs of all examined species have the same basic construction: they consist of antennal vessels that are connected to ampullae located in the head near the antenna base. The ampullae are pulsatile due to associated muscles, but the points of attachment differ between the species studied. All examined Phasmatodea species have a Musculus (M.) interampullaris which extends between the two ampullae plus a M. ampulloaorticus that runs from the ampullae to the anterior end of the aorta; upon contraction, all these muscles dilate the lumina of both ampullae at the same time. In Embioptera, only the australembiid Metoligotoma has an M. interampullaris. All other studied webspinners instead have a M. ampullofrontalis which extends between the ampullae and the frontal region of the head capsule; these species do not have M. ampulloaorticus. Outgroup comparison indicates that an antennal heart with a M. interampullaris is the plesiomorphic character state among Embioptera and the likely ground pattern of the taxon Eukinolabia. Antennal hearts with a M. ampullofrontalis represent a derived condition that occurs among insects only in some embiopterans. These findings help to further clarify the controversially discussed internal phylogeny of webspinners by supporting the view that Australembiidae are the sister group of the remaining Embioptera.
The material and damage behaviour of additively manufactured polyamide 12 under cyclic loading was characterized by cyclic tests and microstructure analysis by using microscopy, X-ray refraction, and computed tomography. The results were used to determine parameters for the viscoplastic material model by Chaboche and a damage model by Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman. The temperature was monitored during the experiments and the self-heating effect was observed. By including this effect, a higher accuracy could be achieved with the results of mechanical experiments.
In order to characterise the material and damage behaviour of additively manufactured polyamide 12 (PA12) under quasi-static load and to implement it in a numerical model, experiments under quasi-static load as well as microstructural investigations were carried out. Selective laser sintering (SLS) was used as the manufacturing process. For the classification of the material behaviour, quasi-static cyclic tests with holding times as well as tensile tests were performed. X-ray refraction and computed tomography (CT) were used to investigate the damage behaviour. The Chaboche model, which has already been applied for metallic materials under thermomechanical loading, served as the basis for the selection of the numerical material model. The same procedure was used for the selection of the damage model, where the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) model was chosen, which was already used for porous metallic materials. The Chaboche model shows very good agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, the coupling with the GTN model allows a very good modelling of the damage behaviour. Finally, it could be shown that the selected models are suitable to simulate the material and damage behaviour of 3D printed PA12.
The in situ analysis of the damage evolution in a metal Matrix composite (MMC) using synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) is presented. The investigated material is an Al alloy (6061)/10 vol% Al2O3 MMC after T6 heat treatment.
In an interrupted tensile test the gauge section of dog bone-shaped specimens is imaged in different states of tensile loading. On the basis of the SXRR images, the relative change of the specific surface (proportional to the amount of damage) in the course of tensile loading was analyzed. It could be shown that the damage can be detected by SXRR already at a stage of tensile loading, in which no Observation of damage is possible with radiographic absorption-based imaging methods.
Moreover, the quantitative analysis of the SXRR images reveals that the amount of damage increases homogeneously by an average of 25% with respect to the Initial state. To corroborate the experimental findings, the damage distribution was imaged in 3D after the final tensile loading by synchrotron X-ray refraction computed tomography (SXRCT) and absorption-based synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (SXCT). It could be evidenced that defects and damages cause pronounced indications in the SXRCT images.
3D imaging techniques have an enormous potential to understand the microstructure, its evolution, and its link to mechanical, thermal, and transport properties. In this conference paper 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. We demonstrate showcases of ceramics and composite materials, where microstructural parameters could be achieved in a way unrivalled even by high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy or computed tomography. We present in situ analysis of the damage evolution in a carbon fibre reinforced polymer and a Al/Al2O3metal matrix composite during tensile load, the direct observation of damage accumulation during creep of Al-3.85Mg and the identification of void formation (different kinds of defects, particularly unsintered powder hidden in pores, and small inhomogeneity’s like cracks) in Ti64 parts produced by selective laser melting using synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography tomography.
Material extrusion of thermoplastic polymers enables the realization of complex specific designs with high performance composites. The present study aims at evaluating the mechanical properties of carbon fiberreinforced semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer polyether ether ketone (CFR-PEEK) manufactured by material extrusion and correlating them with results obtained by micro-CT. Samples in the shape of small bars were provided by Kumovis (Munich, Germany). The determination of surface roughness and density was followed by three-point bending tests. To reveal the pore distribution as well as the fusion quality of CFR PEEK when applied with external forces, micro-CT scans were performed with an X-ray microscope before and after the mechanical test to localize the sites where the fracture is generated. The density of CFR-PEEK bars indicated that they had superior mechanical properties compared with our previous study on unfilled 3D printed PEEK (bending modulus: (5.4 ± 0.5) GPa vs. (1.05 ± 0.05) GPa to (1.48 ± 0.10) GPa; bending strength: (167 ± 11) MPa vs. (51 ± 15) to (193 ± 7) MPa). Micro-CT analyses revealed the local 3D-distribution of voids. Voids of 30 μm diameter are nearly spherical and make up the main part of the total porosity. The larger the voids, the more they deviate from a spherical shape. Significant lack-of-fusion voids are located between the deposited filaments. By growing and merging, they act as seeds for the forming fracture line in the region of the flexural specimens where the maximum local tensile stresses occurred under bending load. Our work provides a detailed analysis of printed PEEK with fiber additive and relates this with mechanical properties.
The microstructure of an apatite-wollastonite (code name AP40) glass-ceramic is analyzed in this study by combining 2D microscopy, phase analysis, X-ray absorption and synchrotron X-ray refraction computed tomography (XCT and SXRCT, respectively). It is shown that this combination provides a useful toolbox to characterize the global microstructure in a wide scale range, from sub-micrometer to millimeter. The material displays a complex microstructure comprising a glassy matrix with embedded fluorapatite and wollastonite small crystals. In this matrix, large (up to 200 μm) spike-shaped structures are distributed. Such microstructural features are oriented around a central sphere, thereby forming a structure resembling a sea urchin. A unique feature of SXRCT, in contrast to XCT, is that internal interfaces are visualized; this allows one to show the 3D distribution of these urchins with exceptionally good contrast. Furthermore, it is revealed that the spike-shaped structures are not single crystals, but rather composed of sub-micrometric crystals, which are identified as fluorapatite and diopside phases by SEM-EDX analysis.
Microstructure characterisation of advanced materials via 2D and 3D X-ray refraction techniques
(2018)
3D imaging techniques have an enormous potential to understand the microstructure, its evolution, and its link to mechanical, thermal, and transport properties. In this conference paper 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. We demonstrate showcases of ceramics and composite materials, where microstructural parameters could be achieved in a way unrivalled even by high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy or computed tomography. We present in situ analysis of the damage evolution in an Al/Al2O3 metal matrix composite during tensile load and the identification of void formation (different kinds of defects, particularly unsintered powder hidden in pores, and small inhomogeneity’s like cracks) in Ti64 parts produced by selective laser melting using synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography and tomography.
Microstructure characterisation of advanced materials via 2D and 3D X-ray refraction techniques
(2018)
3D imaging techniques have an enormous potential to understand the microstructure, its evolution, and its link to mechanical, thermal, and transport properties. In this conference paper 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. We demonstrate showcases of ceramics and composite materials, where microstructural parameters could be achieved in a way unrivalled even by high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy or computed tomography. We present in situ analysis of the damage evolution in an Al/Al2O3 metal matrix composite during tensile load and the identification of void formation (different kinds of defects, particularly unsintered powder hidden in pores, and small inhomogeneity’s like cracks) in Ti64 parts produced by selective laser melting using synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography and tomography.
X-ray refraction is an excellent tool for the characterization of the microstructure of materials. However, there are only a few (synchrotron) laboratories in the world that use this technique for material characterisation. Therefore, the seminar will first explain the basic principles of X-ray refraction and the measurement techniques installed at the hard X-ray beamline BAMline at BESSY II (Berlin, Germany). This is followed by examples of investigations on fibre-reinforced plastic composites (CFRP) as well as ceramic (Cordierite, ZrO2-SiO2) and metallic materials (Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel). Some of the investigations were carried out both ex-situ and in-situ under mechanical and thermal load. The results are correlated with the mechanical properties of the materials.
X-ray imaging techniques have an enormous potential to understand the microstructure, its evolution, and its link to mechanical, thermal, and transport properties. In this lecture 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 the internal specific surface of materials (surface per unit volume) in a non-destructive fashion, position and orientation sensitive, and with a nanometric detectability. We demonstrate showcases of ceramics and composite materials, where microstructural parameters could be achieved in a way unrivalled even by high-resolution techniques such as electron microscopy or computed tomography. We present in situ analysis of the damage evolution during tensile load and the identification of void formation in parts produced by selective laser melting.
The determination of the anisotropy of materials’ microstructure and morphology (pore space) in diesel particulate filter (DPF) materials is an important problem to solve, since such anisotropy determines the mechanical, thermal, and filtration properties of such materials. Through the use of a dedicated (and simple) segmentation algorithm, it is shown how to exploit the information yielded by 3D X-ray computed tomography data to quantify the morphological anisotropy. It is also correlated that such anisotropy of the pore space Such anisotropy of the pore space is also correlated with the microstructure and crystallographic anisotropy of the material in several showcases: a microstructurally isotropic material, such as SiC, and some morphologically and microstructurally anisotropic cordierite materials. In the later case, the finer the grain size, the more isotropic the microstructure.
Ceramics and their composites are in general brittle materials because they are predominantly made up of ionic and covalent bonds that avoid dislocation motion at room temperature. However, a remarkable ductile behavior has been observed on newly developed 11 mol.% ceria-stabilized zirconia (11Ce-TZP) composite containing fine alumina (8 vol.% Al2O3) and elongated strontium hexa-aluminate (8 vol.% SrAl12O19) grains. The as-synthesized composite also has shown full resistance to Low Temperature Degradation (LTD), relatively high strength and exceptionally high Weibull modulus, allowing its use in a broader range of biomedical applications. In this study, to deepen the understanding of plastic deformation in Ce-TZP based composites that could soon be used for manufacturing dental implants, different mechanical tests were applied on the material, followed by complete microstructural characterization. Distinct from pure Ce-TZP material or other zirconia-based ceramics developed in the past, the material here studied can be permanently strained without affecting the Young modulus, indicating that the ductile response of tested samples cannot be associated to damage occurrence. This ductility is related to the stress-induced tetragonal to monoclinic (t-m) zirconia phase transformation, analogue to Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels, where retained austenite is transformed to martensite. The aim of this study is to corroborate if the observed plasticity can be associated exclusively to the zirconia t-m phase transformation, or also to microcraking induced by the transformation. The t-m transformed-zones produced after bending and biaxial tests were examined by X-ray refraction and SEM/TEM coupled with Raman. The results revealed that the observed elastic-plastic behavior occurs without extensive microcracking, confirming a purely elastic-plastic behavior driven by the phase transformation (absence of damage).
While the problem of the identification of mechanisms of hydrogen assisted damage has and is being thoroughly studied, the quantitative analysis of such damage still lacks suitable tools. In fact, while, for instance, electron microscopy yields excellent characterization, the quantitative analysis of damage requires at the same time large field-of-views and high spatial resolution. Synchrotron X-ray refraction techniques do possess both features. In this work, we show how synchrotron X-ray refraction computed tomography (SXRCT) can quantify damage induced by hydrogen embrittlement in a lean duplex steel, yielding results that overperform even those achievable by synchrotron X-ray absorption computed tomography. As already reported in literature, but this time using a non-destructive technique, we show that the hydrogen charge does not penetrate to the center of tensile specimens. By the comparison between virgin and hydrogen-charged specimens, we deduce that cracks in the specimen bulk are due to the rolling process rather than hydrogen-assisted. We show that (micro)cracks propagate from the surface of tensile specimens to the interior with increasing applied strain, and we deduce that a significant crack propagation can only be observed short before rupture.
X-ray refraction related interaction has received rising interest since about two decades in the field of imaging, beam shaping and analysis although being discovered a century ago. Due to refraction at interfaces in inhomogeneous media X-rays undergo natural focusing (or defocusing) of waves, revealing caustics. Such Kind of intensity patterns are well-known for visible light, but have been sparsely discussed for X-rays. The Variation of irradiation density may be predicted in case of known shapes. Analogously to light optics, the intensity distributions cover several orders of magnitude including complete extinction. The partly convergent (and divergent) caustic stripes originate from narrow zones of typical size of some 10−6 of the boundary curvature radius. For the deflection of plane wave synchrotron radiation (energy in the range of some keV to some ten keV) at rods and tubes of several μm diameter, we find good Agreement between experiments and modeling by ray tracing according to Snell’s law without additional diffraction contributions. Apart from Basic Research implications, caustics may influence the performance of irradiation technologies such as sterilization or molecular cross-linking.
Objectives. There is concern that the integrity of fiberglass dental posts may be affected by chairside trimming during treatment. We hypothesize that hard X-ray methods of phase contrast-enhanced micro-CT (PCE-CT) and synchrotron based X-ray refraction (SXRR) can reliably identify and help characterize the extent of damage.
Methods. Fiberglass posts were imaged both as manufactured and following trimming with a diamond bur. Each of the posts was imaged by SXRR and by PCE-CT. Datasets from PCE-CT were used to visualize and quantify 2D and 3D morphological characteristics of intact and of damage-affected regions caused by trimming. Results. The SXRR images revealed fiber inhomogeneities from manufacturing with a significant increase in internal surfaces in sample regions corresponding to damage from trimming. PCE-CT volumes unveiled the micromorphology of single fibers in the posts and some damage in the trimmed area (e.g. fractures, splinters and cracks). Area, perimeter, circularity, roundness, volume and thickness of the glass fibers in the trimmed area were statistically different from the control (p < 0.01).
Significance. The integrity of single fibers in the post is critical for bending resistance and for long-term adhesion to the cement in the root canals. Damage to the fibers causes substantial structural weakening across the post diameter. Glass fragments produced due to contact with the dental bur may separate from the post and may significantly reduce bond capacity. The above mentioned synchrotron-based imaging techniques can further facilitate assessment of the structural integrity and the appearance of defects in posts (e.g. after mechanical load).
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.
For the first time, synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) has been paired with in-situ heat treatment to monitor microstructure and porosity evolution as a function of temperature. The investigated material was a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) manufactured AlSi10Mg, where the initial eutectic Si network is known to disintegrate and spherodize into larger particles with increasing temperature. Such alloy is also prone to thermally induced porosity (TIP). We show that SXRR allows detecting the changes in the Si-phase morphology upon heating, while this is currently possible only using scanning electron microscopy. SXRR also allows observing the growth of pores, usually studied via X-ray computed tomography, but on much smaller fields-of-view. Our results show the great potential of in-situ SXRR as a tool to gain in-depth knowledge of the susceptibility of any material to thermally induced damage and/or microstructure evolution over statistically relevant volumes.
Alternative to conventional transmission-based radiography and computed tomography, X-ray refraction techniques are being increasingly used to detect damage in light materials. In fact, their range of application has been recently extended even to metals. The big advantage of X-ray refraction techniques is that they are able to detect nanometric defects, whose size would lie below the resolution of even state-of-the-art synchrotron-based X-ray computed tomography (SXCT). The superiority of synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography and tomography (SXRR and SXRCT) has been shown in the case of light materials, in particular composites. X-ray refraction techniques also yield a quantitifaction of the amount of damage (the so-called relative internal specific surface) and can well be compared with damage models. At the same time, it is impossible for SXRR and SXRCT to image single defects. We show that the combination of refraction- and transmission-based imaging techniques yields an impressive amount of additional information about the type and amount of defects in microstructured materials such as additively manufactured metals or metal matrix composites. We also show that the use of data fusion techniques allows the classification of defects in statistically significant representative volume elements.
Porous ceramic diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are extruded products that possess macroscopic anisotropic mechanical and thermal properties. This anisotropy is caused by both morphological features (mostly the orientation of porosity) and crystallographic texture. We systematically studied those two aspects in two aluminum titanate ceramic materials of different porosity using mercury porosimetry, gas adsorption, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray refraction radiography. We found that a lower porosity content implies a larger isotropy of both the crystal texture and the porosity orientation. We also found that, analogous to cordierite, crystallites do align with their axis of negative thermal expansion along the extrusion direction. However, unlike what found for cordierite, the aluminium titanate crystallite form is such that a more pronounced (0 0 2) texture along the extrusion direction implies porosity aligned perpendicular to it.
The stress–strain behavior of ceramics, such as aluminum titanate, has certain features that are unusual for brittle materials—in particular, a substantial nonlinearity under uniaxial tension, and load–unload hysteresis caused by the sharp increase of the incremental stiffness at the beginning of unloading. These features are observed experimentally and are attributed to microcracking. Here we compare different degrees of stress–strain nonlinearity of aluminum titanate materials and quantitatively model them. We use advanced mechanical testing to observe the mechanical response at room and high temperature; electron microscopy, and X-ray refraction radiography to observe the microstructural changes. Experiments show that two types of microcracks can be distinguished: (i) microcracks induced by cooling from the sintering temperature (due to heterogeneity and anisotropy of thermal expansion), with typical sizes of the order of grain size, and (ii) much larger microcracks generated by the mechanical loading. The two microcrack types produce different effects on the stress–strain curves. Such microcracks and the features of the stress–strain behavior depend on the density of the cooling-induced microcracks and on the distribution of grain sizes. They are modeled analytically and numerically.
The water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is strongly influenced by the design of the gas diffusion layers (GDL). Limiting current measurements in small-scale cells operating at high stoichiometries are useful to determine the oxygen transport resistance. The oxygen transport resistance increases, once water condenses inside the GDL. In this study a new electrochemical method for voltage loss estimation of GDL induced oxygen transport losses are presented. This new method, referred to as “transient limiting current” (TLC), is compared with the literature method. TLC allows a direct estimation of oxygen transport resistance at an arbitrarily conditioned state. This study also presents a case study of liquid water visualization of a PEM fuel cell with varying GDLs types.
With the help of quasi in-situ synchrotron X-ray computed tomography and time resolved radiography measurements we investigate appearance and distribution of liquid water inside the GDLs under limiting current conditions.
Using SXRR to Probe the Nature of Discontinuities in SLM Additive Manufactured Inconel 718 Specimens
(2020)
The utilization of additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate robust structural components relies on understanding the nature of internal anomalies or discontinuities, which can compromise the structural integrity. While some discontinuities in AM microstructures stem from similar mechanisms as observed in more traditional processes such as casting, others are unique to the AM process. Discontinuities in AM are challenging to detect, due to their submicron size and orientation dependency. Toward the goal of improving structural integrity, minimizing discontinuities in an AM build requires an understanding of the mechanisms of formation to mitigate their occurrence. This study utilizes various techniques to evaluate the shape, size, nature and distribution of discontinuities in AM Inconel 718, in a non-hot isostatic pressed (HIPed) as-built, non-HIPed and direct age, and HIPed with two step age samples. Non-destructive synchrotron radiation refraction and transmission radiography (SXRR) provides additional information beyond that obtained with destructive optical microscopy. SXRR was able to distinguish between voids, cracks and lack of melt in, due to its sensitivity to the orientation of the discontinuity.
For the first time, X-ray refraction techniques are proven for the identification of void formation in Ti-6Al-4V parts produced by selective laser melting. The topology and volume fraction of pores are measured in samples produced with different laser energy density. Unique X-ray refraction methods identify different kinds of defects, characteristic to the regions below and above the Optimum laser energy density, namely unprocessed powder (unmolten powder particles, balling effect, and Fusion defects) from empty keyhole pores. Furthermore, it is possible to detect small inhomogeneities (voids or cracks) with sizes below the spatial resolution of optical microscopy and X-ray computed tomography.
X-ray refraction is analogous to visible light deflection by matter; it occurs at boundaries between different media. The main difference between visible light and X-rays is that in the latter case deflection angles are very small, from a few seconds to a few minutes of arc (i.e., the refraction index n is near to 1). Trivially but importantly, deflection of X-rays is also sensitive to the orientation of the object boundaries. These features make X-ray refraction techniques extremely suitable to a) detect defects such as pores and microcracks and quantify their densities in bulk (not too heavy) materials, and b) evaluate porosity and particle properties such as orientation, size, and spatial distribution (by mapping). While X-ray refraction techniques cannot in general image single defects, their detectability is simply limited by the wavelength of the radiation.
We thereby show the application of X-ray refraction 2D mapping (topography) and tomography to different sorts of problems in materials science and technology: 1) Sintering of SiC green bodies; 2) Porosity analysis in additively manufactured alloys; 3) Fiber de-bonding in metal and polymer matrix composites.
Such techniques, especially at the Synchrotron BESSY II, Berlin, Germany, can be used in-situ, i.e. when the specimen is subjected to temperatures or external loads. Applications of in-situ X-ray refraction radiography on aluminum alloys and composites are also shown.
The use of X-ray refraction analysis yields quantitative information, which can be directly input in kinetics, mechanical and damage models.