Comparative investigation of two-dimensional imaging methods and X-ray tomography in the characterization of microstructure

Inigo Bacaicoa; Martin Lütje; Philipp Sälzer; Cristin Umbach; Angelika Brückner-Foit; Hans-Peter Heim; Bernhard Middendorf

doi:10.3139/120.111076

Article

Comparative investigation of two-dimensional imaging methods and X-ray tomography in the characterization of microstructure

Inigo Bacaicoa , Martin Lütje , Philipp Sälzer , Cristin Umbach , Angelika Brückner-Foit , Hans-Peter Heim and Bernhard Middendorf

Published/Copyright: October 2, 2017

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 59 Issue 10

Abstract

The microstructural features of three different materials have been quantified by means of 2D image analysis and X-ray micro-computer tomography (CT) and the results were compared to determine the reliability of the 2D analysis in the material characterization. The 3D quantification of shrinkage pores and Fe-rich inclusions of an Al-Si-Cu alloy by X-ray tomography was compared with the statistical analysis of the 2D metallographic pictures and a significant difference in the results was found due to the complex morphology of shrinkage pores and Fe-rich particles. Furthermore, wood particles of a wood-plastic composite were measured by dynamic image analysis and X-ray tomography. Similar results were obtained for the maximum length of the particles, although the results of width differ considerably, which leads to a miscalculation of the particles aspect ratio. Finally, air voids of a foam concrete were investigated by the analysis of the 2D pictures in ImageJ and the results of the 2D circularity were compared with the values of the 3D elongation obtained by micro-computed tomography. The 3D analysis of the air voids in the foam concrete showed a more precise description of the morphology, although the 2D result are in good agreement with the results obtained by X-ray micro-tomography.

Kurzfassung

Die mikrostrukturellen Merkmale von drei verschiedenen Werkstoffen wurden mittels 2D-Bildanalyse und Röntgen-Mikrocomputertomographie untersucht und die Ergebnisse verglichen, um die Zuverlässigkeit der 2D-Analyse in der Werkstoffforschung zu bestimmen. Die 3D-Quantifizierung der Schrumpfporen und der eisenhaltigen Einschlüsse einer Al-Si-Cu-Legierung durch Computertomographie wurde mit der statistischen Analyse der zweidimensionalen metallografischen Bilder verglichen. Hierbei ergab sich ein signifikanter Unterschied in den Ergebnissen, der auf die komplexe Morphologie der Poren und Einschlüsse zurückzuführen ist. Weiterhin wurden die Holzpartikel eines Holz-Kunststoff-Verbundes mittels dynamischer Bildanalyse und Mikrocomputertomographie untersucht. Hinsichtlich der Partikellänge konnten mit beiden Methoden sehr ähnliche Ergebnisse erzielt werden. Für die Partikelbreite ergaben sich aufgrund der fehlenden räumlichen Information jedoch deutliche Abweichungen, die zu einer Fehleinschätzung des Partikelseitenverhältnisses führen. Zuletzt wurden die Poren eines Schaumbetons durch Analyse von zweidimensionalen Bildern mittels ImageJ gemessen und die Ergebnisse der Rundheit mit den Werten aus der Computertomographie erhaltenen dreidimensionalen Ausdehnung verglichen. Die 3D-Analyse der Poren im Schaumbeton zeigte eine genauere Beschreibung der Morphologie, obwohl das 2D-Ergebnis in guter Übereinstimmung mit den Ergebnissen der Röntgentomographie steht.

*Correspondence Address, Dipl.-Ing. Philipp Sälzer, Abteilung Materialentwicklung und Verbundwerkstoffe, Institut für Werkstofftechnik, Kunststofftechnik, Universität Kassel, 34125 Kassel, Germany, E-mail: saelzer@uni-kassel.de

Inigo Bacaicoa, born in 1991, studied Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Aerospace Engineering at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain. During his studies, he worked at ITP, aerospace industry in Zamudio, Spain, in the Department of Materials and Special Processes, analyzing data of micro-cracks and fatigue-loading tests from welding joints for quality assessment. Since 2015, he has been working as a research assistant in the field of casting defects and heat treatment optimization of recycled Al alloys in the Institute of Materials Engineering, Quality and Reliability at the University of Kassel, Germany.

Martin Lütje, born in 1986, studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kassel, Germany. After his Master degree, he worked at the Institute of Materials Engineering with the SFB/TRR30 scholarship studying the fatigue behavior of gradient microstructures. Since 2014, he has been working as a research assistant in the field of X-ray tomography and casting defects of Al alloys in the Institute of Materials Engineering, Quality and Reliability at the University of Kassel.

Dipl.-Ing. Philipp Sälzer, born in 1987, studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kassel, Germany until 2014 and has been a research assistant in the Department of Polymer Engineering (Prof. Heim) since 2015. Currently, he is working in the field of material development and composite materials in the special research project “Safer Materials” in which he is investigating the influence of the geometry of bio-based fillers.

MSc Cristin Umbach, born in 1989, studied Civil Engineering (Bachelor and Master degree) with scientific specialization in Materials Science and Constructive Engineering at the University of Kassel, Germany. Currently, she is working as a scientific employee in the Institute for Structural Engineering in the Department of Building Materials and Construction Chemistry (Prof. Middendorf) at the University of Kassel.

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Angelika Brückner-Foit, born in 1953, studied Physics at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany and obtained her PhD in 1980. From 1980 to 1989, she was Head of the Department of Stochastic at the Institute of Materials Research II of Karlsruhe Research Center. From 1985 to 1986, she worked as a guest scientist at the Center for Applied Stochastics Research of Florida Atlantic University, USA. From 1989 to 2000, she was academic supervisor at the Institute of Reliability and Damage in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Karlsruhe. Since 2000, she is Professor in the Department of Quality and Reliability of the Institute of Materials Engineering at the University of Kassel, Germany.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Heim, born in 1967, studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Paderborn, Germany. After finishing his PhD, he became chief engineer at the Institute of Plastics Technology at the University of Paderborn in 2001 and has been the acting head of the institute since 2004. Since 2008, he is Professor for Plastics Engineering at the University of Kassel, Germany.

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Bernhard Middendorf, born in 1962, studied Mineralogy at the University of Cologne, Germany. After his doctorate at the University of Siegen, Germany, he worked as Academic Councilor at the University of Kassel, Germany. Between 2004 and 2012, he worked as Professor in the Department of Building Materials at TU Dortmund University, Germany. Since 2012, he is Professor in the Department of Building Materials and Construction Chemistry at the University of Kassel, Germany.

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Published Online: 2017-10-02

Published in Print: 2017-10-04

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