Recent advances in X-ray microtomography applied to materials

TLDR

Recent advances in X‑ray microcomputed tomography for materials, since the first review in *International Materials Reviews*, are highlighted. The review discusses instrumentation improvements, especially phase‑contrast microCT, and organizes studies by application type—spatial phase distribution, cellular and fibrous solids, channel structures, deformation, fatigue, fracture, processing, corrosion, and environmental interactions—while also covering metrology, combined X‑ray scattering, reconstruction accuracy, and data‑handling challenges. The review concludes by speculating on future directions for materials microCT.

Abstract

AbstractAbstractThis review highlights recent advances in X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) as applied to materials, specifically advances made since the first materials microCT review appeared in International Materials Reviews. Improvements in instrumentation are covered, and one focus is microCT using phase (as opposed to absorption) contrast. Instead of grouping studies by disciplines, the reviewed reports are organised by type of application, specifically the study of the spatial distribution of phases, of cellular solids (including static and temporally evolving structures, fibrous network solids, mineralised tissues and biomedical applications), of channel structures, of deformation, fatigue and fracture, of processing and of corrosion and environmental interactions. Metrology applications are covered briefly, and several applications where microCT is combined with position resolved X-ray scattering are described in more detail. The accuracy of microCT reconstructions is discussed before data handling challenges are outlined. The review closes with speculations on the future directions of materials microCT.Keywords: MICROTOMOGRAPHYX-RAY IMAGINGSYNCHROTRON RADIATION