Structural analysis of advanced polymeric foams by HR X-ray CT
Michele NACUCCHI (ENEA, Centro di Ricerca di Brindisi)
Advanced polymeric foams with enhanced thermal insulation and mechanical properties are used in a wide range of interesting applications.
The properties of a foam strongly depend by its cell structure. Traditionally, the microstructure of polymeric foams are analysed using 2D imaging systems based on optical or electron microscopy, with the obvious disadvantage that only the sample’s surface can be analysed.
X-ray micro-tomography imaging allows the three dimensional non-destructive analysis of polymeric foams. The resolution of the reconstructed structural features is hampered by the low contrast in the images due to the weak X-ray absorption and the ability to perform a quantitative analysis is not obvious. The aim of this work is to show that a three dimensional quantitative analysis of such a polymeric foam can be performed.
Local structure features of individual cells such as equivalent diameter, sphericity, i.e. deviation from the spherical shape, anisotropy and orientation are statistically evaluated. Also the thickness and length of struts can be determined. In perspective, the quantitative description of these structural features will be used to evaluate the results of in situ mechanical test on foam samples.
