High Resolution 4D imaging of degradation and self-repair processes - Resources

长期以来，我们的“看”能力与我们对世界的理解携手并进，从我们对非常遥远的事物的理解（第一个望远镜到哈勃望远镜和阵列望远镜）到非常微小的事物（第一个显微镜到高性能电子显微镜）。x射线断层扫描不仅开启了3D成像，也开启了时间变化。而x射线成像在同步加速器上正在向10纳米分辨率发展，我们可以在实验室里成像50纳米。对于工程材料来说，分辨率本身并不是目的。我们需要能够在控制损伤核的尺度上成像，同时拥有足够大的样本以与工程相关。例如，在许多情况下，样品需要毫米或更大的尺寸，以使裂纹行为代表实际行为（例如r曲线响应），但增韧机制在微米尺度上运行。这个资本设备项目精确地关注这个空间状态，使我们能够在实验室中以数十分钟的时间尺度跟踪亚微米微观结构的3D演变过程。新的3D x射线成像仪将使我们能够在一段时间内（4D）实现降解和修复过程的能力飞跃，包括：-自我修复陶瓷和聚合物复合材料-坚韧分层生物材料和生物启发结构中的裂纹增长-涂层演变和次表面失效-电池和燃料电池的充放电。这些应用对于更轻的重量运输，通过更高的工程师工作温度更有效地产生能量，以及向更多的电力（更低的二氧化碳）经济发展非常重要。除了这些具体的研究外，这些设备将有40%的时间提供给英国学者（3年内240天）。这将使改进的成像能力相对于英国现有的成像能力，应用于更广泛的应用，从土木工程到食品科学，从设备材料到新的生物支架。

Please see corresponding Capital grant - EP/J021229/1It has long been true that our ability to 'see' has progressed hand in hand with our understanding of the world, from our understanding of the very distant (first telescopes to Hubble and the array telescopes) to the very minute (first microscopes to the high performance electron microscopes). X-ray tomography opens up not just 3D imaging but temporal changes too.While X-ray imaging is advancing towards 10nm resolution at synchrotrons and we can image at 50nm in the lab., for engineering materials resolution is not an end in itself. We need to be able to image at the scales that control damagenucleation while at the same time having samples large enough to be of engineering relevance. For example, in many cases samples need to be of millimetre, or larger dimensions, for crack behaviour to be representative of practicalbehaviours (e.g. R-curve response), but the toughening mechanisms operate at the micron scale. This capital equipment project focuses precisely on this spatial regime, enabling us to follow sub-micron microstructure evolution processes in 3D at timescales of tens of minutes in the lab.The new 3D x-ray imager will enable us to achieve a step jump in our ability to follow degradation and repair processesover time (4D), including:- Self-repairing ceramics and polymer composites- Crack growth in tough hierarchical biomaterials and bio-inspired structures- Coating evolution and sub-surface failure- Charging and discharging of batteries and fuel cells.These applications are important for lighter weight transport, producing energy more efficiently through higher enginer operating temperatures, and the move towards a more electric (lower CO2) economy.Besides these specific studies the equipment will be made available to Uk academics 40% time (>240 days over 3 years). This will allow the improved imaging capability relative to what is already available in the Uk to be applied to a vefy wide range of appplications, from civil engineering through to food science, from device materials through to new bio-scafolds.