X-ray micro-computed tomography is an imaging technique that involves the recording of series of 2D radiographs, taken at various angles around a rotating object, to mathematically reconstruct a spatial map and digitally render the entire volume of an object. In our research a lab-based X-ray microscope was used to perform micro-CT evaluations to explore the microstructural characteristics of 3-day old intact (i.e. not tested) 3D printed and cast hardened cement paste specimens at two levels of magnification: 0.4X and 4X. CT scans of printed specimen revealed a patterned pore network and several other microstructural features. In addition, micro-CT was used to assess cracking and damage in tested 3D-printed specimens at 4X level of magnification. It was found that Micro-CT demonstrates great aptitude (as a non-destructive technique) for capturing spatial heterogeneities and damage characteristics of the microstructure of 3D-printed elements as large as10ths of mm. The dual-stage magnifications system used facilitated higher resolutions at large working distance, thus allowing CT of larger specimens.

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Mohamadreza Moini (2019), "X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography Characterization of the Internal Microstructure of 3D Printed Hardened Cement-based Materials," https://nanohub.org/resources/30924.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. 3d printing
2. cement
3. characterization
4. Imaging
5. microscopy
6. x-ray microscopy