Nottingham microscopy technique ‘tackles issue industry has faced for more than 100 years’
发布时间：2024年5月29日 12:58
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The microscopy technique was invented at the University of Nottingham
Researchers at the University of Nottingham claim to have tackled an issue that has plagued industry for more than 100 years with the invention of a new microscopy method.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham claim to have tackled an issue that has plagued industry for more than 100 years with the invention of a new microscopy method.
The technique, which can image the microscopic elasticity of engineering materials, is set for global use after being adopted by US company Coherent Photon Imaging (CPI).
Many materials are made up of thousands of small crystals. The size, shape, and stiffness of these are fundamental to the material's performance. In engineering materials such as aero-engine components the stiffness of these crystals has not previously been measurable, a Nottingham announcement said, and could only be identified from specially prepared single crystals, which had to be made in laboratories at great expense.
“These single crystals often had significantly different properties from the real engineering material they were supposed to represent due to differences in their preparation. This meant that it was previously impossible to determine the fundamental microscopic stiffness of real materials – an issue industry has faced for more than 100 years,” the announcement said.
“Previously, the only way to measure the elasticity matrix of a material was to cut it up or attempt to grow a single crystal of the material, a process that cannot be done for many materials, such as the titanium alloys used in modern jet engines, which wastes money, time, and materials,” said Professor Matt Clark.
Now, the university’s patented SRAS invention and the newly patented SRAS++ technique can measure and image the complex stiffness in real materials, making it possible to map variations for the first time. “These brand-new discoveries pave the way for a myriad of other applications, such as the detection of residual stress and in situ monitoring [of] the progress of processes such as heat treatment and annealing,” the announcement added.
Supported by a six-figure funding boost from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the technology has started to be used in aerospace to evaluate the structural integrity of materials used in critical engine components. Now, it is set for global adoption through a collaboration with Iowa firm CPI.
Founder and co-owner Pete Collins said: “What sets this apart is that it measures not only a material’s state, but also its elasticity, a capability none of these other methods can do. This is a gamechanger. We are delighted to be working closely with such a pioneering group to bring this technology to market as widely as we can.”
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Many materials are made up of thousands of small crystals. The size, shape, and stiffness of these are fundamental to the material's performance. In engineering materials such as aero-engine components the stiffness of these crystals has not previously been measurable, a Nottingham announcement said, and could only be identified from specially prepared single crystals, which had to be made in laboratories at great expense.
“These single crystals often had significantly different properties from the real engineering material they were supposed to represent due to differences in their preparation. This meant that it was previously impossible to determine the fundamental microscopic stiffness of real materials – an issue industry has faced for more than 100 years,” the announcement said.
“Previously, the only way to measure the elasticity matrix of a material was to cut it up or attempt to grow a single crystal of the material, a process that cannot be done for many materials, such as the titanium alloys used in modern jet engines, which wastes money, time, and materials,” said Professor Matt Clark.
Now, the university’s patented SRAS invention and the newly patented SRAS++ technique can measure and image the complex stiffness in real materials, making it possible to map variations for the first time. “These brand-new discoveries pave the way for a myriad of other applications, such as the detection of residual stress and in situ monitoring [of] the progress of processes such as heat treatment and annealing,” the announcement added.
Supported by a six-figure funding boost from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the technology has started to be used in aerospace to evaluate the structural integrity of materials used in critical engine components. Now, it is set for global adoption through a collaboration with Iowa firm CPI.
Founder and co-owner Pete Collins said: “What sets this apart is that it measures not only a material’s state, but also its elasticity, a capability none of these other methods can do. This is a gamechanger. We are delighted to be working closely with such a pioneering group to bring this technology to market as widely as we can.”
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
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