Traditional x-ray techniques seriously limit imaging of very small or weakly absorbing features and make extraction of subtle textural information from the image extremely difficult. PCX systems, developed and manufactured by XRT, are specifically designed to capture and retrieve both phase and absorption contrast enabling high contrast imaging of low density materials in a broad range of applications, from materials science to micro-electronics, food technology, earth sciences, and more. PCX series is now combined with Avizo® software for high-end 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of micro-CT data, delivering a superior 3D imaging solution for challenging materials structure analysis.
Phase contrast for very fine insight into weakly absorbing materials
High-resolution phase and absorption contrast phenomena play important functions in improving contrast for x-ray images with many types of weakly absorbing materials (that can either stand alone or be in the company of more dense structures), even with the most difficult low contrast samples such as paper, plastics, composites, geo-polymers, metal foams, ceramics, food texture, and more. The imaging geometry used in XRT’s PCX produces images containing both absorption and phase contrast components which, when combined, allow faint objects of similar atomic number, and small features, not otherwise visible to be imaged in superb detail.
Highly concise insight obtained from leading-edge 3D imaging technologies
XRT now offers Avizo® software as an additional tool for advanced 3D visualization and analysis of microtomography data generated using PCX products. This unique combination of cutting-edge PCX’s X-ray phase contrast and Avizo’s 3D image processing technologies allows to obtain realistic 3D models, to take virtual sections through the sample, and to provide enhanced and highly concise insight into the internal arrangement of components; the thickness, integrity and registration of layered structures can reveal images of internal cracks, voids and delaminations without destroying the sample. “XRT chose Avizo® because of its superior imaging and analysis capabilities, and also because of its ability to visualize the large data sets produced by high resolution micro-CT.”, says Les Brownlow (Chief Operating Officer at XRT). “Avizo’s extensive choice of standard imaging tools makes it particularly simple to visualize structures with widely different characteristics. The integrated 3D quantification capability of Avizo® Fire edition extends the capability for full 3D analysis, so important to engineers and scientists alike.”
About XRT
XRT’s core expertise lies in developing and commercializing new technologies in the field of X-ray phase contrast imaging. The company has successfully developed and commercialized the technology, is rapidly expanding global distribution and support infrastructure and has implemented a program of exciting new product development which will further push the boundaries of x-ray imaging.
For more information: www.xrt.com.au.
About XRT’s PCX
PCX X-ray imaging products are specifically designed to capture and retrieve both phase and absorption contrast providing high contrast imaging to a broad range of applications, from materials science to microelectronics, food technology, biology and more.
About Avizo® software suite
Avizo® 3D software is a powerful, multifaceted tool for visualizing, analysing, and understanding scientific and engineering data. Avizo delivers advanced 3D graphics and analysis capabilities for materials science, physical and environmental sciences, geosciences, computer-aided engineering, and generic scientific activities. Avizo offers abundant state-of-the-art features within an intuitive workflow and easy to-use graphical user interface.
For more information: www.avizo3d.com.
About Avizo® Fire
Avizo Fire offers a broad range of software tools for obtaining and visualizing advanced qualitative and quantitative information on complex material structure images. Avizo Fire delivers powerful visualization and analysis capabilities for numerous applications in materials science, including materials characterization, material microstructure evolution, surface analysis, quality control, nanotechnology, crystallography, industrial tomography and non-destructive investigation. Based on Open Inventor® by VSG, Avizo Fire offers a comprehensive, versatile, scalable application framework that addresses all aspects of 3D data visualization, processing, analysis, and presentation.
For more information: www.vsg3d.com.
