Open-access, high resolution Computertomographysystem

• Subject Area: Materials Engineering
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 438537211

The interfaculty research network AMICA for material characterization and evaluation pools research devices for multidisciplinary use in materials science and strengthens the collaboration between scientists of different research areas to promote competency and innovative forces. The investigated materials reach from biological materials through construction materials in civil engineering to highly complex and functional metallic components in mechanical engineering, obtained by additive manufacturing. The AMICA-partners research issues concerning image enhancement of X-Ray and CT-scans, the evaluation of image qualities of standardized test blocks, the fundamental understanding of processes in complex structures, and the material properties on the microstructure level. The planned computer tomography system combines a high-resolution detector and a nanofocus X-Ray source that provide high resolution scans on the nanometer scale. An additional integrated high-energy X-Ray source also allows the investigation of thicker and denser materials in 3D. Combined with the already existing devices in AMICA, 3D investigations will then be possible from the nano to the macro scale. The CT system will operate in an existing X-Ray room and provides the possibility to scan parts of bigger dimensions and complex geometries or apply in-situ CT-scans during loading of components. The software interfaces are open and allow sophisticated image post-processing as well as implementation of complex scan trajectories that are necessary for different research projects. The planned system additionally provides phase contrast and dark field imaging, which generate high contrast images especially for materials with small atomic numbers. Interferometric X-Ray-Imaging bears high potential for materials sciences and investigations are still in their infancy.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Offenes, hochauflösendes Computertomographiesystem
• Instrumentation Group: 4070 Spezielle Röntgengeräte für Materialanalyse, Strukturforschung und Werkstoff-Bestrahlung
• Applicant Institution: Universität Stuttgart
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan Weihe