Nondestructive investigation of damage in composites using x-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM)
- Chemistry and Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (USA)
- School of Materials Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 (USA)
- Materials Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California 94550 (USA)
- Department of Physics, University of Dortmund, Dortmund (Federal Republic of Germany)
X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM), utilizing intense, highly collimated synchrotron radiation, has been used to nondestructively image materials structures in three dimensions. The spatial resolution of the technique approaches that of conventional optical microscopy, but XTM does not require polished surfaces or serial sections. We present the results of an XTM investigation of a composite material composed of silicon-carbide fibers in an aluminum matrix. The results reveal the aluminum/silicon-carbide interfaces and show microcracks running along many of the interfaces as well as in the matrix. Excellent contrast is observed between the silicon-carbide sheath of the fiber surrounding the graphite core and the coating at the fiber-matrix interface. The sensitivity to small changes in the linear absorption coefficient allows nondestructive imaging of variations in chemistry between graphite and silicon carbide and between silicon carbide and aluminum. The experimentally determined values of the absorption coefficients of these phases are identical to values published in the literature. For the first time, XTM will allow observation of damage accumulation and crack growth {ital during} deformation testing. The availability of such data will greatly improve our understanding of failure in advanced materials.
- OSTI ID:
- 6733825
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research; (USA) Vol. 5:5; ISSN JMREE; ISSN 0884-2914
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Nondestructive evaluation of damage in SiC/Al metal matrix composite using x ray tomographic microscopy
X-ray Tomographic Microscopy (XTM)
Related Subjects
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALUMINIUM
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACKS
DAMAGE
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FIBERS
IMAGES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
METALS
MICROSCOPY
RADIATIONS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
TOMOGRAPHY
X RADIATION