X-ray Computed Tomography at Warwick
Slicing through the unknown: How X-ray Computed Tomography at Warwick is solving murders, uncovering prehistoric artefacts and analysing battery failures
X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) has been at the cutting edge of analytical techniques since its inception over half a century ago. Godfrey Hounsfield’s ground-breaking invention in the early 1970s was first used to scan a patient’s brain, uncovering a large tumour and enabling a surgeon to save her life. Since then, the technology has expanded into a spectrum of sectors and scientific fields.
The University of Warwick's XCT Research Technology Platform (RTP) houses a suite of state-of-the-art XCT scanners, which can see through a wide range of sample material types and sizes to give you an unprecedented understanding of what’s inside.
Challenges in industry
XCT systems are highly precise, highly capable analytical instruments. They work by using X-rays to capture detailed 3D images of the internal structure of a sample. The sample is placed on a manipulator and rotated 360 degrees, and with the X-rays penetrating it, multiple radiographs are recorded on a detector.
The radiographs are then processed by advanced software to reconstruct a 3D volumetric model, creating ‘tomograms’ that reveal cross-sectional views across hundreds or thousands of slices.
XCT is an immensely powerful characterisation technique, providing comprehensive insights into the structural composition of samples ranging from metals and rocks to human tissue.
Its broad utility, combined with the fact it is non-destructive, lends itself to application in a wide range of fields, including electrochemistry, forensics, battery research, materials science, automotive manufacturing and archaeology. It is also an invaluable tool in failure analysis, revealing defects affecting the performance of components.
Work with Warwick to drive innovation
Our nationally-leading facility houses five CT scanners that cater not only for different sample types but also different scales of samples.
Our ultra-high-resolution system can reveal detail in slices with voxel resolution as small as 170 nanometres wide, for small samples with micron-sized features. Our high-power XCT scanner can be used for imaging large metal components such as engine blocks. We also have a high-speed system capable of imaging samples in dynamic states, revealing degradation or other changes, for example due to force or temperature.
For detailed specifications of our equipment, visit the XCT RTP website.Link opens in a new window
Why Warwick?
Success stories at Warwick
Warwick’s XCT facility collaborates with industry leaders and other external partners across many sectors:
Contact us
Get in touch to discuss how we can help solve your challenges. Contact Claire Gerard, Warwick Scientific Services Manager: .
For further information, visit the XCT RTP websiteLink opens in a new window.