Application of industrial CT to research materials

Industrial CT: Decoding the "micro-code" of scientific research materials and empowering the future of innovation​

At the forefront of materials science, researchers are always faced with a core challenge: how to accurately analyze the microstructure, defect distribution and performance correlation of materials? Traditional testing methods are limited by two-dimensional perspective or destructive sampling, which can hardly meet the demand for high-precision and full-dimensional analysis. WhileIndustrial CT (industrial computed tomography)With its non-destructive, high-resolution three-dimensional imaging capability, it is becoming a "super microscope" for research materials, providing subversive tools for new materials research and development, failure analysis and process optimization.

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​Industrial CT Inspection: Opening a "three-dimensional perspective" on the microcosm of materials​

Whether it is metal alloys, ceramic matrix composites, or polymers, the macroscopic properties of a material are often determined by its microstructure.Industrial CT InspectionIt is able to visualize defects such as internal pores, cracks, inclusions, etc. of materials in three dimensions with micron or even nanometer resolution, and accurately quantify their size, distribution and morphological characteristics. Example:

• ​New Materials Research and Development: When developing lightweight aerospace materials, industrial CT can clearly demonstrate the internal pore connectivity of honeycomb structures or foam metals, providing data to support the optimization of material mechanical properties.
• ​Composite Interface Analysis: For fiber-reinforced composites, industrial CT can non-destructively resolve the bonding state of the fibers to the matrix and assess the impact of interfacial defects on the overall material properties.
• ​Nanomaterial Characterization: Combined with high-resolution CT equipment, researchers can directly observe the dispersion uniformity of nanoparticles, breaking through the local sampling limitations of traditional electron microscopy.

pass (a bill or inspection etc)Industrial CT equipmentWith the reconstruction of three-dimensional data, the research team is able to establish a complete correlation model of "microstructure - process parameters - macroscopic performance", which significantly shortens the transformation cycle of new materials from laboratory to industrialization.

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​Four core application scenarios for industrial CT in the field of research materials​

1. ​Material Failure Mechanism Research​
   Industrial CT can be used for in-situ scanning of fatigue fracture, corrosion failure and other samples, tracking the path of crack initiation and expansion, revealing the root cause of failure, and pointing the way for material modification or protection technology development.
2. ​Additive manufacturing (3D printing) process optimization​
   In the field of metal/ceramic 3D printing, industrial CT can quantitatively analyze the porosity, unfused defects and residual stress distribution of the printed parts, helping researchers to optimize key parameters such as laser power and scanning speed.
3. ​Analysis of Biomaterials and Biomimetic Structures​
   From bone bionic materials to plant fiber structures, Industrial CT is able to non-destructively analyze the complex multilevel structures of natural materials, providing a source of inspiration for bionic material design that has been "optimized" by nature for billions of years.
4. ​Behavioral studies of materials in extreme environments​
   Combined with high-temperature, low-temperature or mechanical loading devices, industrial CT can realize dynamic microstructure observation of materials under extreme conditions and promote breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as high-temperature resistant alloys and superconducting materials.

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​Shanghai Industrial CT: A Technology Engine for Research and Innovation​

As the highland of science and technology innovation in ChinaShanghaiBringing together the world's top industrial CT technology resources and interdisciplinary research teams. SelectShanghai Industrial CTservices, means gaining the following core advantages:

• ​State-of-the-art equipment and customized solutions​
  The local service provider in Shanghai is equipped with high-end equipment such as micro-focus CT and nano-CT with a resolution of up to 0.5 microns, and can customize scanning solutions for material characteristics (e.g., high-density, low-contrast) to ensure data accuracy.
• ​Interdisciplinary technical synergies​
  Relying on the resource network of Shanghai's universities and research institutes, industrial CT inspection can be deeply combined with mechanical testing, computational simulation and other technologies to build a full chain of "inspection-analysis-prediction" capabilities for materials research.
• ​Efficient Response and Intellectual Property Protection​
  The localization team provides rapid sample testing, data interpretation and confidentiality agreement support to ensure the timeliness of research projects and the security of technical results.

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​Case Witness: Industrial CT-Driven Research Breakthroughs​

• ​New Materials Laboratory at a university: Successfully analyzed the failure mechanism of thermal barrier coatings of new ceramic matrix composites through Shanghai Industrial CT service, and the related results were published in Nature Materials.
• ​National Research Institute: Optimization of fuel cell bipolar plate runner design using industrial CT 3D data, resulting in a 15% increase in power density of the electrostack.

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​Conclusion: Lighting the fire of research and innovation with the power of Industrial CT​

As materials science moves from "empirical exploration" to "data-driven".Industrial CT equipmentand inspection technology has become an essential tool for breaking through bottlenecks in scientific research. Whether it is the precise analysis of microstructures or the reliable prediction of macroscopic properties, industrial CT is redefining the boundaries of materials research.