X-ray Phase Contrast Research Articles

Three-Dimensional Observation and Analysis of Fiber Structures by a Phase Contrast X-Ray Microscope CT

Three-Dimensional Observation and Analysis of Fiber Structures by a Phase Contrast X-Ray Microscope CT

Diversity of sound production and hearing in fishes: Exploring the riddles of communication and sensory biology

My research in fish bioacoustics started in the mid-1980s and comprised the diversity in sound-generating mechanisms and sound production in various contexts such as dyadic contests. I worked on European freshwater and marine fish, but mainly on tropical fish from Southeast Asia (gouramis) and the Amazonian River system (pimelodid, doradid catfishes, piranhas). The diversity of sonic organs raised the question if general patterns of innervation of sonic muscles in vocal fishes exist. Different vocal (sonic) motor nuclei were identified in the brainstem and rostral spinal cord for pectoral and swim bladder vibration mechanisms. In addition, I wanted to find out if vocal fish differ from nonvocal species in hearing abilities. Measurements applying the auditory evoked potential technique revealed a large diversity of auditory sensitivities depending on the presence or lack of accessory hearing structures independently of sound production. Furthermore, I investigated the anatomy, ultrastructure of inner ears, and hearing enhancement by auxiliary hearing structures. Recently, we studied sound-induced motion of swim bladders, auditory ossicles, and otoliths using x-ray phase contrast imaging. A large part of my studies was carried out in cooperation with laboratories in the USA, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Brasilia which made my research interesting.

Modeling of X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging of Optically Heterogeneous Objects

Modeling of X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging of Optically Heterogeneous Objects

Study of Optical Properties and Structural Features of Object using the X-ray Phase Contrast Method

Study of Optical Properties and Structural Features of Object using the X-ray Phase Contrast Method

Towards Safer Batteries- 4D Imaging of Abuse Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Synchrotron X-Ray Computed Tomography

Higher energy density materials are being pushed by the research community to make lithium-ion batteries a better competitor to chemical fossil fuels for transport applications. This increases potential risk of lithium-ion batteries and therefore safety investigations are highly important for application purposes. Operando Computer Tomography provides a non-destructive investigation method of different abuse mechanisms.Application of X-ray computed tomography (XCT) for studying lithium-ion batteries has gained interest among the research community especially in the past decade [1]. This technique is widely used for ex-situ samples to measure porosity and tortuosity [2], particle size and volume distribution [3] in the graphite anode as well as different cathode materials such as LiCoOx and NiMnCoOx. [4]. In situ measurements of commercial batteries are also often carried out to detect defects induced in a cell by a safety abuse test or manufacturing process [5]. Operando CT of large cells (for example 18650 form factor) is conducted at synchrotron facilities with high flux of high energy photons, however at a cost of details due to the large field of view [6].Thanks to their high brilliance, synchrotron beam facilitates us to do a full Computed Tomography in a short time. This enables us to measure batteries while being cycled with a reasonable time resolution to record morphological changes. In this presentation we illustrate how one can utilize this ability to investigate abuse mechanisms on an actual commercially available lithium-ion battery from cell level to electrode level.In this work, lab-based and synchrotron X-ray computed tomography is applied to commercial lithium-ion batteries. It is shown how to find most suitable imaging settings to study available lithium-ion batteries on different size scales, from cell level to particle level. We also demonstrate how to optimize contrast as well as both temporal and spatial resolutions to study in-situ and operando processes in a commercial battery using attenuation and phase contrast SXCT. Manufacturing defects and inconsistencies on cell level as well as the electrode and microstructure on material level are shown in our study.Using the presented methodic, some abuse conditions are induced and imaged in operando on a commercially available li-ion battery. In this work, deep discharge mechanism is visualized and quantified in detail for the first time in 4 dimensions.This oral presentation is aimed to present SXCT and lab XCT imaging as an important tool for studying state of safety of lithium-ion batteries from cell level down to particle level. It is shown how to find most suitable imaging settings to study available lithium-ion batteries on different size scales. We also demonstrate how to optimize contrast as well as both temporal and spatial resolutions to study in-situ and operando processes in a commercial battery using attenuation and phase contrast SXCT. Manufacturing defects and inconsistencies on cell level as well as the electrode and microstructure on material level are shown in our study. Moreover, some abuse conditions are imaged in operando in a commercially available li-ion battery. Le Houx, J. and D. Kramer, X-ray tomography for lithium ion battery electrode characterisation — A review. Energy Reports, 2021. 7: p. 9-14. Eastwood, D.S., et al., The application of phase contrast X-ray techniques for imaging Li-ion battery electrodes. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2014. 324: p. 118-123. Finegan, D.P., et al., Investigating lithium-ion battery materials during overcharge-induced thermal runaway: an operando and multi-scale X-ray CT study. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2016. 18(45): p. 30912-30919. Ebner, M., et al., Tortuosity Anisotropy in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes. Advanced Energy Materials, 2014. 4(5). Patel, D., et al., Thermal Runaway of a Li-Ion Battery Studied by Combined ARC and Multi-Length Scale X-ray CT. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2020. 167(9). Finegan, D.P., et al., In-operando high-speed tomography of lithium-ion batteries during thermal runaway. Nat Commun, 2015. 6: p. 6924.

Quantitative phase contrast X-ray tomography of aluminium metal matrix composite

The quantitative assessment of micro-structure and load-induced damages in Al–SiC metal matrix composites (MMC) is important for its design optimization, performance evaluation and structure-property correlation. X-ray Phase contrast micro-tomography is potentially used for evaluation of its 3 dimensional micro-structure manifested in the form of voids, cracks, embedded particles, and load-induced damages. However, the contrast between Al matrix and SiC particles is insufficient for their clear morphological identification and quantitative assessment. In the present study, we have proposed and applied single image-based phase retrieval as a pre-processing step to micro-tomography reconstruction for improved assessment of micro-structure and cohesion-induced damages in Al–SiC MMC. The advantages of applying different phase retrieval techniques in the enhancement of image quality and morphological quantification of SiC particles, pores and cohesion damages are discussed. It is observed that the Paganin method offers the best improvement in contrast to noise ratio for the measurement of SiC particles embedded in the Al matrix.

Imaging Voids and Defects Inside Li-Ion Cathode LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 Single Crystals.

Li-ion battery cathode active materials obtained from different sources or preparation methods often exhibit broadly divergent performance and stability despite no obvious differences in morphology, purity, and crystallinity. We show how state-of-the-art, commercial, nominally single crystalline LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC-622) particles possess extensive internal nanostructure even in the pristine state. Scanning X-ray diffraction microscopy reveals the presence of interlayer strain gradients, and crystal bending is attributed to oxygen vacancies. Phase contrast X-ray nano-tomography reveals two different kinds of particles, welded/aggregated, and single crystal like, and emphasizes the intra- and interparticle heterogeneities from the nano- to the microscale. It also detects within the imaging resolution (100 nm) substantial quantities of nanovoids hidden inside the bulk of two-thirds of the overall studied particles (around 3000), with an average value of 12.5%v per particle and a mean size of 148 nm. The powerful combination of both techniques helps prescreening and quantifying the defective nature of cathode material and thus anticipating their performance in electrode assembly/battery testing.

Micro- and nanostructure specific X-ray tomography reveals less matrix formation and altered collagen organization following reduced loading during Achilles tendon healing

Recovery of the collagen structure following Achilles tendon rupture is poor, resulting in a high risk for re-ruptures. The loading environment during healing affects the mechanical properties of the tendon, but the relation between loading regime and healing outcome remains unclear. This is partially due to our limited understanding regarding the effects of loading on the micro- and nanostructure of the healing tissue. We addressed this through a combination of synchrotron phase-contrast X-ray microtomography and small-angle X-ray scattering tensor tomography (SASTT) to visualize the 3D organization of microscale fibers and nanoscale fibrils, respectively. The effect of in vivo loading on these structures was characterized in early healing of rat Achilles tendons by comparing full activity with immobilization. Unloading resulted in structural changes that can explain the reported impaired mechanical performance. In particular, unloading led to slower tissue regeneration and maturation, with less and more disorganized collagen, as well as an increased presence of adipose tissue. This study provides the first application of SASTT on soft musculoskeletal tissues and clearly demonstrates its potential to investigate a variety of other collagenous tissues. Statement of significanceCurrently our understanding of the mechanobiological effects on the recovery of the structural hierarchical organization of injured Achilles tendons is limited. We provide insight into how loading affects the healing process by using a cutting-edge approach to for the first time characterize the 3D micro- and nanostructure of the regenerating collagen. We uncovered that, during early healing, unloading results in a delayed and more disorganized regeneration of both fibers (microscale) and fibrils (nanoscale), as well as increased presence of adipose tissue. The results set the ground for the development of further specialized protocols for tendon recovery.

Dose-efficient in vivo X-ray phase contrast imaging at micrometer resolution by Bragg magnifiers

X-ray imaging enables the study of morphodynamic and physiological processes in living organisms. However, the required photon flux increases with the desired spatial resolution and with it the requirements for dose efficiency. We realize full-field imaging at micrometer resolution close to the highest possible dose efficiency. This is achieved by combining propagation-based phase contrast with Bragg crystal optics and a high-Z single-photon-counting detector, all designed for X-ray energies that allow minimal dose for a given image quality. We prove the superior imaging performance compared to conventional systems and, in particular, show a substantial increase in dose efficiency for high spatial frequencies that comprise the relevant high-resolution components of the image. We demonstrate the potential of the technique by a behavioral in vivo study of submillimeter-sized parasitoid chalcid wasps within their host eggs before and during emergence. The findings show that the technique opens up new possibilities for dose-sensitive studies at micrometer resolution, not only in life sciences but also in materials research.

High-Resolution Phase-Contrast Tomography on Human Collagenous Tissues: A Comprehensive Review.

Phase-contrast X-ray imaging is becoming increasingly considered since its first applications, which occurred almost 30 years ago. Particular emphasis was placed on studies that use this technique to investigate soft tissues, which cannot otherwise be investigated at a high resolution and in a three-dimensional manner, using conventional absorption-based settings. Indeed, its consistency and discrimination power in low absorbing samples, unified to being a not destructive analysis, are pushing interests on its utilization from researchers of different specializations, from botany, through zoology, to human physio-pathology research. In this regard, a challenging method for 3D imaging and quantitative analysis of collagenous tissues has spread in recent years: it is based on the unique characteristics of synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microTomography (PhC-microCT). In this review, the focus has been placed on the research based on the exploitation of synchrotron PhC-microCT for the investigation of collagenous tissue physio-pathologies from solely human samples. Collagen tissues' elasto-mechanic role bonds it to the morphology of the site it is extracted from, which could weaken the results coming from animal experimentations. Encouraging outcomes proved this technique to be suitable to access and quantify human collagenous tissues and persuaded different researchers to approach it. A brief mention was also dedicated to the results obtained on collagenous tissues using new and promising high-resolution phase-contrast tomographic laboratory-based setups, which will certainly represent the real step forward in the diffusion of this relatively young imaging technique.

In-situ 3D X-ray investigation of ceramic powder sintering at the particle length-scale

We report an in-situ investigation of a high-temperature ceramic powder sintering performed for the first time at the particle length-scale. This was made possible by the phase-contrast X-ray nano-holotomography technique at the ID16B nano-analysis beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), featuring nanometer resolution (25 nm) capabilities. To perform sintering inside the synchrotron hutch, a compact high-temperature furnace was designed and developed. The sequence of real-time 3D images captured the collective behavior of the particles as well as the local-level specificities. A list of sintering indicators corresponding to the evolution of the particle shape, particle size, inter-particle neck size, pore size and pore curvature were extracted. The effect of these parameters on densification and their influence on the overall microstructural development were analyzed. Our results demonstrate the potential of synchrotron-based X-ray nano-tomography for studying complex sintering phenomena in 3D.

Phase retrieval for X-ray differential phase contrast radiography with knowledge transfer learning from virtual differential absorption model

Grating-based X-ray phase contrast radiography and computed tomography (CT) are promising modalities for future medical applications. However, the ill-posed phase retrieval problem in X-ray phase contrast imaging has hindered its use for quantitative analysis in biomedical imaging. Deep learning has been proved as an effective tool for image retrieval. However, in practical grating-based X-ray phase contrast imaging system, acquiring the ground truth of phase to form image pairs is challenging, which poses a great obstacle for using deep leaning methods. Transfer learning is widely used to address the problem with knowledge inheritance from similar tasks. In the present research, we propose a virtual differential absorption model and generate a training dataset with differential absorption images and absorption images. The knowledge learned from the training is transferred to phase retrieval with transfer learning techniques. Numerical simulations and experiments both demonstrate its feasibility. Image quality of retrieved phase radiograph and phase CT slices is improved when compared with representative phase retrieval methods. We conclude that this method is helpful in both X-ray 2D and 3D imaging and may find its applications in X-ray phase contrast radiography and X-ray phase CT.

A novel fusion method for X-ray phase contrast imaging based on fast adaptive bidimensional empirical mode decomposition.

X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) can separate the attenuation, refraction, and scattering signals of the object. The application of image fusion enables the concentration of distinctive information into a single image. Some methods have been applied in XPCI field, but wavelet-based decomposition approaches often result in loss of original data. To explore the application value of a novel image fusion method for XPCI system and computed tomography (CT) system. The means of fast adaptive bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (FABEMD) is considered for image decomposition to avoid unnecessary information loss. A parameter δ is proposed to guide the fusion of bidimensional intrinsic mode functions which contain high-frequency information, using a pulse coupled neural network with morphological gradients (MGPCNN). The residual images are fused by the energy attribute fusion strategy. Image preprocessing and enhancement are performed on the result to ensure its quality. The effectiveness of other image fusion methods has been compared, such as discrete wavelet transforms and anisotropic diffusion fusion. The δ-guided FABEMD-MGPCNN method achieved either the first or second position in objective evaluation metrics with biological samples, as compared to other image fusion methods. Moreover, comparisons are made with other fusion methods used for XPCI. Finally, the proposed method applied in CT show expected results to retain the feature information. The proposed δ-guided FABEMD-MGPCNN method shows potential feasibility and superiority over traditional and recent image fusion methods for X-ray differential phase contrast imaging and computed tomography systems.

Rapid Determination of Meteorolite Composition Based on X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging-Assisted Raman Spectroscopy

Returning extraterrestrial samples to Earth has become essential for future deep space exploration. Achieving a comprehensive evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of samples with minimal damage is key to analyzing extraterrestrial samples in the future, as well as to the future sampling and returning of heterogeneous solid samples. This article aims to reconstruct the three-dimensional internal structure of high-contrast objects, select sections of interest through internal structure and detail features, and then analyze the physical and chemical properties of the samples based on laser spectroscopy technology. This paper proposes a strategy based on Raman mapping and X-ray phase-contrast imaging technology to reconstruct the three-dimensional internal structure of a heterogeneous solid sample and detect the substance composition of the region of interest. This study takes meteorite samples as an example and uses X-ray phase-contrast imaging technology to distinguish and reconstruct the spatial distribution of different components in the meteorite, providing a three-dimensional visualization reference with a high spatial resolution for the spatial positioning of the region of interest. Raman spectroscopy, in combination with LIBS, was used to further identify the meteorite as pallasite and to achieve the spectral image fusion of high spatial and high spectral resolutions. The experimental results show that the unknown meteorite’s three-dimensional structure and its components’ spatial distribution can be evaluated based on Raman mapping combined with X-ray phase-contrast imaging technology. This article provides a highly valuable analytical strategy by which to analyze samples returned from deep space exploration.

Sustained inflation improves initial lung aeration in newborn rabbits with a diaphragmatic hernia.

Infants with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (DH) have underdeveloped lungs and require mechanical ventilation after birth, but the optimal approach is unknown. We hypothesised that sustained inflation (SI) increases lung aeration in newborn kittens with a DH. In pregnant New Zealand white rabbits, a left-sided DH was induced in two fetal kittens per doe at 24-days gestation (term = 32 days); litter mates acted as controls. DH and control kittens were delivered by caesarean section at 30 days, intubated and mechanically ventilated (7-10 min) with either an SI followed by intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) or IPPV throughout. The rate and uniformity of lung aeration was measured using phase-contrast X-ray imaging. Lung weights in DH kittens were ~57% of controls. An SI increased the rate and uniformity of lung aeration in DH kittens, compared to IPPV, and increased dynamic lung compliance in both control and DH kittens. However, this effect of the SI was lost when ventilation changed to IPPV. While an SI improved the rate and uniformity of lung aeration in both DH and control kittens, greater consideration of the post-SI ventilation strategy is required to sustain this benefit. Compared to intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV), an initial sustained inflation (SI) increased the rate and uniformity of lung aeration after birth. However, this initial benefit is rapidly lost following the switch to IPPV. The optimal approach for ventilating CDH infants at birth is unknown. While an SI improves lung aeration in immature lungs, its effect on the hypoplastic lung is unknown. This study has shown that an SI greatly improves lung aeration in the hypoplastic lung. This study will guide future studies examining whether an SI can improve lung aeration in infants with a CDH.

Cryo-X-ray phase contrast imaging enables whole biopsy imaging prior to multi-omic analysis

Abstract Background Analysis of myocardial biopsies using conventional two-dimensional (2D) histological techniques is limited in the detection of important three-dimensional (3D) structural features, such as disarray, due to sectioning and artefacts from dehydration or chemical processing. More advanced techniques such as light-sheet microscopy, micro-computed tomography or synchrotron radiation-based X-ray phase contrast imaging can provide non-destructive, 3D histological information at high resolution for formalin-fixed and/or paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsies. However, formalin fixation induces crosslinking of proteins which can impact quality and their subsequent analysis, for example, fragmentation of nucleic acids. A method for imaging 3D structure of myocardial biopsies in near-native state is needed which can then be followed by downstream multi-omic applications. Purpose To develop a technique called cryogenic X-ray phase contrast imaging (Cryo-X-PCI) to image snap-frozen myocardial biopsies at controlled low temperatures, followed by multi-omic analysis starting with analysis of DNA and RNA. Methods Myocardial biopsies (n=46) were obtained from C57BL/6 mice and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen fresh or after 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA);10% formalin fixation. Pilot human aortic stenosis biopsies were also included (n=3, fresh). X-PCI was performed at -70°C using a cryojet, 20 keV beam energy and 0.65 µm detector pixel size (Figure 1). Datasets were reconstructed using Gridrec algorithm and Paganin phase retrieval. Morphologic analysis (myocardial disarray index, fractional anisotropy, helical angle, and intrusion angle) of biopsies was performed using a structure tensor-based approach via in-house MATLAB script. After imaging, DNA and RNA were extracted from murine biopsies followed by assessment of quantity and quality. Results Increased intercellular space between aggregates of myocytes was observed in all samples. This is consistent with reported findings in skeletal muscle using cryogenic conditions. Nonetheless, morphologic analysis of the biopsies proved possible (Figure 2). Optimal recovery of DNA and RNA was obtained from fresh frozen samples as compared to 4% PFA-fixed or 10% formalin-fixed samples. Conclusions This study demonstrates Cryo-X-PCI as a potential tool for analysing myocardial biopsies of heart muscle disease including morphologic analyses. Levels of DNA and RNA were not significantly affected indicating that downstream genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics analyses should be feasible.Setup for Cryo-X-PCI of frozen biopsiesMorphologic analysis of a biopsy

Synchrotron-based X-ray phase contrast imaging of transmural cardiac tissue in patients treated for advanced heart failure

Abstract Background Cardiac imaging is essential for identifying structural changes in advanced heart failure (HF) and understanding underlying pathophysiology. Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray phase contrast imaging (X-PCI) is a non-destructive imaging modality that can provide high resolution three-dimensional (3D) visualisation of cardiac tissue on the microstructural level. Thus far, such analyses including the quantification of myocyte aggregates ranging from the epicardium to the endocardium, have been confined to animal models and human fetal tissue. We aimed to explore the feasibility of using X-PCI to quantify and compare structural organisation and orientation of myocyte aggregates in the myocardium across different advanced HF aetiologies. Methods and design Four adult patients were included - two receiving a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and two undergoing heart transplantation (HTx). Aetiology of advanced HF in both the LVAD and HTx group was ischaemic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), respectively. Transmural tissue samples were obtained by left ventricular apical coring (LVAD) and from the explanted hearts (HTx). The tissue specimens were imaged by X-PCI at the TOMCAT beamline using an effective pixel size of 5.8 µm. Orientation of aggregates of cardiomyocytes was assessed using a structure tensor-based method and morphological parameters were derived - the helical angle (HA), or the angle between the circumferential left ventricular plane and myocyte aggregates, and fractional anisotropy (FA), the degree of anisotropy or disorganisation of the local myocardium. Results The general patient characteristics are shown in Table 1. X-PCI enabled 3D visualisation of transmural myocardial tissue samples showing differences in organisation of myocardial structure in different HF aetiologies (Figure 1). The epicardial adipose layer was thicker in DCM, paired with a thinner epicardial myocyte layer (yellow arrows). Furthermore, the epi-to-endocardial HA transition was clearly visualized in ICM (double arrows), whereas there was clear disruption of the HA gradient in DCM samples – a finding further quantified via FA (green arrows). Conclusion X-PCI allows non-destructive advanced imaging of ex-vivo tissue. By harnessing the power of digital 3D imaging on a cellular level, it provides a novel insight to differential information on tissue organisation in different aetiologies of advanced heart failure.Table 1Figure 1

In situ X-ray phase contrast imaging of the melt and vapor capillary behavior during the welding regime transition on aluminum with limited material thickness

The X-ray phase contrast imaging is a powerful method to understand the fundamental behavior of the melt and keyhole during the laser beam welding process. In this paper, the keyhole-induced vapor capillary formation in the melt pool is investigated by using an adjustable laser beam source. For this purpose, the aluminum A1050 specimen with a thickness of 0.5 mm is molten only with the heat conduction welding regime by using the ring-mode laser beam. Once the specimen is molten through, the core multi-mode laser beam is then applied to vaporize the melt and a transition to keyhole welding regime occurs. Therefore, the core multi-mode laser beam with an intensity value of 33.3 MW/cm2 is investigated. The correlation between the keyhole-induced vapor capillary and the melt behavior is further investigated in this paper which was recorded with a high sampling rate of 19 kHz. In addition, a theoretical calculation about the keyhole depth is discussed in this paper.

Enhancing Contrast of Spatial Details in X-ray Phase-Contrast Imaging through Modified Fourier Filtering

In-line X-ray phase contrast imaging, which is simple to experiment with, provides significantly higher sensitivity, compared to conventional X-ray absorption imaging. The inversion of the relationship between recorded Fresnel diffraction intensity and the phase shift induced by the object is called phase retrieval. The transport of intensity equation (TIE), a simple method of phase retrieval, which is solved by the fast Fourier transform algorithm proposed by Paganin et al., has been widely adopted. However, the existing method suffers from excessive suppression of high-frequency information, resulting in loss of image details after phase retrieval, or insufficient detail contrast, leading to blurry images. Here, we present a straightforward extension of the two-distance FFT-TIE method by modifying the Fourier filter through the use of a five-point approximation to calculate the inverse Laplacian in a discrete manner. Additionally, we utilize a combination of continuous Fourier transform and a four-point approximation to compute the gradient operator. The method is evaluated by simulating samples with a shape similar to the resolution test map and by using a photograph of a dog for further evaluation. The algorithm that incorporates the modified gradient operator and the algorithm that solely utilizes the continuous Fourier transform for gradient computation were compared with the results obtained using the two-distance FFT-TIE method. The comparisons were conducted using the results obtained from two distances from the sample to the detector. The results show that this method improves the contrast of spatial details and reduces the suppression of high spatial frequencies compared to the two-distance FFT-TIE method. Furthermore, in the low-frequency domain, our algorithm does not lose much information compared to the original method, yielding consistent results. Furthermore, we conducted our experiments using carbon rods. The results show that both our method and the FFT-TIE method exhibit low-frequency distortion due to the requirement of close proximity between the absorption maps and the detector. However, upon closer inspection, our proposed method demonstrates superior accuracy in reproducing the finer details of the carbon rod fibers.

Understanding the hot isostatic pressing effectiveness of laser powder bed fusion Ti-6Al-4V by in-situ X-ray imaging and diffraction experiments

In the present study, in-situ observation of Hot Isostatic Pressure (HIP) procedure of laser powder bed fusion manufactured Ti-6Al-4V parts was performed to quantitatively estimate the densification rate of the material and the influence of the defect initial size and shape on such rate. The observations were performed in-situ using the Ultrafast Tomography Paris-Edinburgh Cell and the combination of fast phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray tomography and energy dispersive diffraction. With this strategy, we could quantify how the effectiveness of HIP depends on the characteristics of a defect. Smaller defects showed a higher densification rate, while the defect shape did not have significant effect on such rate.