In‐situ 4D tomography image analysis framework to follow sintering within 3D printed glass scaffolds

DOI: 10.1111/jace.18182

Authors: A. I. Kondarage (University of Moratuwa; Imperial College London) , G. Poologasundarampillai (University of Birmingham) , A. Nommeots-Nomm (Imperial College London; University of Manchester) , P. D. Lee (University College London; Research Complex at Harwell) , T. D. Lalitharatne (Imperial College London) , N. D. Nanayakkara (University of Moratuwa) , J. R. Jones (Imperial College London) , A. Karunaratne (University of Moratuwa)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of The American Ceramic Society

State: Published (Approved)
Published: October 2021
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 13241

Abstract: We propose a novel image analysis framework to automate analysis of X-ray micro-tomography images of sintering ceramics and glasses, using open-source toolkits and machine learning. Additive manufacturing (AM) of glasses and ceramics usually requires sintering of green bodies. Sintering causes shrinkage, which presents a challenge for controlling the metrology of the final architecture. Therefore, being able to monitor sintering in 3D over time (termed 4D) is important when developing new porous ceramics or glasses. Synchrotron X-ray tomographic imaging allows in situ, real-time capture of the sintering process at both micro and macro scales using a furnace rig, facilitating 4D quantitative analysis of the process. The proposed image analysis framework is capable of tracking and quantifying the densification of glass or ceramic particles within multiple volumes of interest (VOIs) along with structural changes over time using 4D image data. The framework is demonstrated by 4D quantitative analysis of bioactive glass ICIE16 within a 3D printed scaffold. Here, densification of glass particles within 3 VOIs were tracked and quantified along with diameter change of struts and inter-strut pore size over the 3D image series, delivering new insights on the sintering mechanism of ICIE16 bioactive glass particles in both micro and macro scales.

Diamond Keywords: Additive Manufacturing

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Materials, Technique Development


Instruments: I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging

Added On: 25/10/2021 14:15

Discipline Tags:

Biomaterials Technique Development - Materials Science Ceramics Materials Science

Technical Tags:

Imaging Tomography