MRI: Acquisition of an X-ray Computed Nanotomography system with in situ material testing to advance understanding of natural and engineered materials

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖支持购买x射线计算机纳米断层扫描（nanoCT）系统，该系统配备了原位机械和热材料测试，可以进行生物，地质和工程材料的基础研究。该项目将推进增材制造、生物医学工程、地球和环境系统、能源和智能材料以及可持续、弹性基础设施材料的关键研究。高成像分辨率和原位测试能力将用于增强对孔隙度形成和增材制造部件完整性的理解，生物医学应用材料和新型纳米颗粒药物疗法的设计，天然和工程地质材料的水化学机械过程，以及能源和智能聚合物材料的结构-性能关系和设计。作为一项公共资源，该奖项将为奥本大学和地区机构的学生、教师和工作人员提供新的研究、推广、教学和学生培训机会。此外，该工具将通过整合本科和研究生课程来丰富教育，并通过包括奥本大学女性工程营地和工程学术卓越计划在内的外展活动，鼓励代表性不足的学生追求STEM领域。这种x射线纳米oct将促进材料的非破坏性3D成像，其中可以使用延时成像捕获材料的变化。这种纳米oct具有新的先进材料测试阶段，能够以高达100纳米的分辨率和温度变化（-20摄氏度至85摄氏度）或压缩或拉伸载荷下对样品进行成像。先进的能力将使人们能够更好地理解增材制造零件中导致孔隙产生的过程，以及这些孔隙对零件结构完整性的影响。此外，该仪器还将推动基于纳米粒子的新型药物疗法的基础研究，改善呼吸系统疾病和癌症的诊断，新型隐形眼镜和生物医学应用新材料的设计。借助纳米oct，可以表征地质多孔介质中的多尺度连通孔隙度和矿物可达表面积。延时成像将与现场实验相结合，以评估由于地球化学反应和/或应用机械和热力而导致的孔隙结构和裂缝的反应性变化，从而改变对地质系统中热-水-化学-机械过程的理解。聚合物材料的高分辨率成像将增加从纳米到宏观尺度的结构-性能关系的理解，为设计新一代功能纳米材料提供所需的知识。此外，对基础设施材料结构的观察以及在原位载荷和一系列环境条件下局部变形的开始和演变将改变对材料特性和破坏机制的理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of an X-ray Computed Nanotomography (nanoCT) system equipped with in situ mechanical and thermal material testing that enables fundamental research in biological, geological, and engineered materials. This project will advance critical research in additive manufacturing, biomedical engineering, earth and environmental systems, energy and smart materials, and sustainable, resilient infrastructure materials. High imaging resolutions and in-situ testing capabilities will be leveraged to enhance understanding of porosity formation and the integrity of additively manufactured parts, materials for biomedical applications and design of novel nanoparticle-based drug therapies, hydro-chemical-mechanical processes in natural and engineered geomaterials, and structure-property relationships and design of energy and smart polymeric materials. As a publicly available resource, this award will provide new research, outreach, teaching and student training opportunities to students, faculty, and staff at Auburn University and regional institutions. In addition, this instrument will enrich education through integration into undergraduate and graduate courses and will encourage underrepresented students to pursue STEM fields through inclusion in outreach activities including Auburn University's Women in Engineering camps and the Engineering Academic Excellence Program. This X-ray nanoCT will facilitate non-destructive 3D imaging of materials where material transformations can be captured using time-lapsed imaging. This nanoCT features new advanced material testing stages, abilities to image specimens at resolutions as high as 100 nm and under variations in temperatures (-20 degrees C to 85 degrees C) or with compressive or tensile loads. Advanced capabilities will permit an enhanced understanding of the processes leading to pore generation in additively manufactured parts, and the impact of these pores on the structural integrity of parts. This instrument will additionally enable fundamental research towards advancing novel nanoparticle-based drug therapies, improved diagnosis of respiratory diseases and cancer, new contact lenses and the design of novel materials for biomedical applications. With the aid of the nanoCT, multi-scale connected porosity and mineral accessible surface areas in geologic porous media will be characterized. Time-lapsed imaging will be coupled with in situ experiments to evaluate the reactive changes in pore structures and fractures due to geochemical reactions and/or applied mechanical and thermal forces, transforming understanding of thermo-hydro-chemical-mechanical processes in geologic systems. High-resolution imaging of polymeric materials will increase understanding of structure-property relationships from the nano- to macro-scale, generating the knowledge needed for designing a new generation of functional nanomaterials. Furthermore, the observations of infrastructure material structures and the inception and evolution of localized deformation under in situ loading and in a range of environmental conditions will transform the understanding of material characteristics and failure mechanisms.This 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.