Description
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Computer Tomography is a non-destructive inspection technique based on differences in absorption/attenuation of X-Rays through the material. The CT-technique provides a 3D-data set of in the sample. The attenuation of X-Rays depends on the atomic number, density and thickness of the material and on the energy of the X-Ray beam. Non-destructive inspection of internal structure, size and volumetric measurements are possible on the 2D as well as the 3D-images. Micro-CT allows observations under environmental conditions without sample disturbing preparations that are normally used in other microscopic techniques. The technique is used in combination with other imaging techniques (e.g. MRI, SEM-EDX). For example, to study the water migration in a porous structure. The Bruker Skyscan 1172 XRT is a high-resolution desktop X-ray micro-CT system for small samples. This XRT is part of the equipment portfolio of Unilever made available for sharing through Shared Research Facilities.
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Technical Details
- X-ray source: sealed microfocus X-ray tube, air cooled, 20-100kV/10W (<5 µm spot size).
- Down to 0.5µm isotropic detail detectability.
- Fully distortion corrected 11Mp X-ray camera (4000x2664 pixels, 12-bit cooled CCD fiber-optically coupled to scintillator).
- Up to 8000x8000 pixels in every slice.
- Maximum object size: 27mm in diameter (single scan) or 50mm in diameter (offset scan).
- 2D and 3D imaging.
- Dynamically variable acquisition geometry for shortest scan at any magnification.
- Fast GPU-accelerated cone beam volumetric reconstruction.
- Thermal drift corrections possible (at high resolution).
- Beam filters: 0.5mm Al/Al+Cu.
- Micro position stage (to achieve exact positioning of the sample in the middle of the scanning field at high resolution imaging).
- Cooling stage (to keep the sample at sub-zero temperature down to 30-40°C below ambient).
Image analysis and visualisation
The 3D images can be visualised and analysed using a broad range of available software packages (CTan, CTvol, Avizo, ImageJ, Matlab).
Applications
X-ray microtomography can be used for a wide variety of applications in the food and non-food area. For example, the following samples can be imaged: bread, cake, aerated emulsions, ice cream, dried vegetables, bouillon cubes, powders, granules, tea, filter material, textile, hair, packaging material.