Nano X-ray Tomography Application for Quantitative Surface Layer Geometry Analysis after Laser Beam Modification
Aneta Gądek-Moszczak1, Norbert Radek2, Izabela Pliszka3
1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, Al. Jana Pawła II 37, 31-864 Cracow, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 9, 2022
Summary
X-ray nanotomography offers advanced analysis of material surface geometry. This technique provides detailed insights into coating quality, revealing changes in thickness distribution and compactness not visible with standard methods.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Surface Chemistry and Physics
- Advanced Imaging Techniques
Background:
- Surface geometrical structure analysis is crucial and standardized in materials science.
- Current methods for analyzing coating geometry have limitations in providing comprehensive data.
- There is a lack of research on applying X-ray nanotomography for coating geometry analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of X-ray nanotomography for analyzing the geometrical structure of material coatings.
- To assess the effectiveness of X-ray nanotomography in evaluating coating quality, particularly after laser treatment.
- To propose new parameters for qualitative assessment of coating application and processing.
Main Methods:
- Utilized X-ray nanotomography imaging for high-resolution 3D analysis of coating structures.
- Employed three-dimensional image processing and stereological methods for data interpretation.
- Conducted comparative tests on cermet coatings before and after laser treatment, alongside standard surface geometry tests.
Main Results:
- X-ray nanotomography revealed significant differences in coating thickness distribution and compactness after laser treatment, despite similar average thickness values.
- The stereological parameter N (number of objects per unit volume) indicated a twofold decrease in layer compactness post-laser treatment.
- Sample coverage by the cermet layer increased from 70% to 95% after laser treatment, confirming improved coating quality.
Conclusions:
- X-ray nanotomography is a valuable technique for detailed analysis of coating geometrical structure, offering insights beyond conventional methods.
- The proposed stereological parameters provide a robust method for qualitative assessment of coating application and post-processing improvements.
- Three-dimensional analysis significantly enhances the understanding of surface layer geometry, providing previously unattainable data for quality evaluation.
