Industrial Automation Magazine India

X-Ray Material Imaging provides precise details of internal structures and features

Published on : Friday 30-10-2020

Advanced MicroAnalytical offers X-ray imaging, 3D X-ray CT and other exacting material testing services to support a wide range of industries.

Salem, NH, October 28, 2020 – X-ray imaging is a well-known method for examining the internal structural composition of a material in a non-destructive manner. This can be achieved because X-rays penetrate most substances and are only absorbed by relatively dense materials, allowing the inside of many materials to be examined without destroying or damaging it. As an inspection tool, X-rays are often used to document internal structures and measure parts. With the substantial range of magnifications possible with a modern industrial X-ray system, fine sub-millimetre wires in electronic devices, as well as entire rotor blade assemblies or motors, can be examined.

X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) is a more advanced technique that combines the examination of a series of X-ray images projected through a single sample at varying angles to create a complete view of the sample. These images are then computationally back-projected to model a three dimensional representation of the original sample. This allows for all of the varying materials to be modelled and examined. With a high resolution micro-CT scanner and advanced software modelling, features that are less than five microns in size can be reliably examined and rendered.

The scientists and engineers at Advanced MicroAnalytical use these techniques to inspect and analyse a diverse range of samples for their clients. Advanced MicroAnalytical’s ability to look at a sample in 3D is a uniquely powerful capability that facilitates all sorts of other analytical methods. For example, manufactured parts can be compared against known CAD plans or parts from different lots. Wall thickness, cell size, grain size and fibber orientation can all be easily examined. Additionally, X-ray is an extremely useful technique for examining internal voids in cast parts or inclusions in ceramics or polymer materials.

Failure analysis also benefits from Advanced MicroAnalytical’s X-ray CT, by allowing for specific features to be more precisely targeted for mechanical sectioning or for virtual cross sections to be examined from the CT data. With the high density, high precision output available with CT analysis, samples can be directly imported for meshing and analysis using finite element analysis (FEA) or other computational methods. X-ray inspection and 3D CT allows Advanced MicroAnalytical’s clients to harness this precision and detail for their projects on samples as varied as micro-electronics to hammer forged, high strength mechanical parts or tooling.