SBIR Phase I: High-Energy X-ray Gratings for Nondestructive Evaluation

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发先进的X射线成像、基于高能X射线光栅的干涉测量、用于添加剂制造部件的无损评估的系统。高能、基于X射线光栅的干涉成像系统的图像质量将有利于检测飞行关键航空部件(如涡轮机部件)和医疗设备(如定制髋杯)上的关键尺寸缺陷。干涉照相技术能够以比传统工业X射线CT扫描更快的速度检测亚微米到微米的空洞。成像速度和质量很重要；根据目前的X射线CT扫描，一些飞行关键部件面临10%的废品率。更好的图像质量的目标是反馈到加法制造的打印参数中，从而增加零件的成品率和可靠性。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将是美国第一个将高能X射线光栅干涉法商业化的项目。这一提议的干涉测量概念是新颖的，部分源自美国国家科学基金会支持的重力波探测设施--激光干涉引力波天文台(LIGO)，该设施导致了高能X射线光栅光学和软件的硬件/软件专利。硅或石墨晶片上微加工的金和/或镍结构具有极高的长宽比，需要使用支撑结构来保证微加工特征的物理稳定性。支撑结构引入了图像噪声并降低了干涉测量性能。LIGO衍生程序适应了支撑结构，恢复了图像质量和仪器性能。支持结构对于用于高能X射线的光学设备尤其重要，例如用于检查添加剂制造金属部件的系统。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of advanced X-ray imaging, high-energy X-ray grating-based interferometry, systems for nondestructive evaluation of additive manufacturing components. The image quality of the high-energy, X-ray grating-based interferometry imaging system will be advantageous for detecting critical size flaws on flight critical aerospace components, such as turbine components, and medical devices such as customized hip cups. Interferometry radiography is capable of detection of sub-micron to micron voids at a rate faster than conventional industrial X-ray CT scanning. Imaging speed and quality is important; some flight critical components face a reject rate of 10% based on the current X-ray CT scans. The goal of better image quality is feedback into the additive manufacturing print parameters so as to increase part yield and reliability. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the first to commercialize high-energy, X-ray grating interferometry in the US. The interferometry concepts for this proposal are novel and have been partly derived from the NSF-supported gravity wave detection facility, the Laser Interferometry Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), which led to a hardware/software patent for high-energy X-ray grating optics and software. The microfabricated gold and/or nickel structures on silicon or graphite wafers have exceedingly high aspect ratios, requiring the use of support structures for physical stability of the microfabricated features. The support structures introduce image noise and diminished interferometry performance. The LIGO-derived procedure accommodates the support structures, restoring image quality and instrument performance. The support structures are especially important for optics used with high-energy X-rays, such as systems designed for inspection of additive manufacturing metal componentsThis award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.