Influence of Spatial Resolution on SiC Industrial Foam’s Structural Parameters Obtained by X-ray Microtomography

Abstract

X‐rays microtomography is a non‐destructive technique that generates digital images of samples’ internal structure by attenuation of an X‐rays beam. The samples’ structural parameters are obtained from these images by specific software analysis. This means that the image quality is essential to perform a suitable structural characterization. The spatial resolution is one of the main parameters that contribute to image quality. In this work the influence of spatial resolution for industrial SiC ceramic foam’s analysis was evaluated. The samples’ pore density was 60 pores per inch (ppi). This kind of foam can operate at high temperatures, which allow them to be used as liquid metal filters, heat exchangers or composite of rocket nozzles, for example. The measurements were performed with a SkyScan microtomograph, model 1172. It was operated at 50 kV and 60 kV high voltage for measurements with 24.8 μm and 2.5 μm spatial resolution, respectively. The total porosity and the pore size distribution were the structural parameters studied. They were obtained by Imago software. The total porosity results were statistically equivalent for both resolutions, but the comparison of the microtomographic images datasets and pore size distributions of both resolutions showed differences that enhances the importance of the spatial resolution for a complete characterization of the sample internal microstructure.