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Real-time 4D tomography

Dynamic imaging of materials and components

Specialists in in-situ tomography, we help you explore the behavior of your materials in 3D and in real time.

Through our experimental setups or custom developments (mechanical loads, thermal or électrical cycles, dissolution cells, specific environments), we reveal the internal mechanisms that govern the performance, durability, and reliability of your parts.

From test preparation to data interpretation, we transform these advanced analyses into actionable results to secure your processes and accelerate your innovations.

Why use in situ tomography?

Understand the real mechanisms: by visualising, at the micrometer scale and in real time, the initiation and propagation of cracks, the evolution of porosity, delamination, consolidation during sintering, and electrode expansion under load, etc.

Validate models and simulations: by obtaining quantitative 4D data to feed and compare your numerical models.

Optimize industrial processes: by reducing costly trial and error through direct observation of the effects of parameters, for example, for sintering sequences, 3D printing parameters, pharmaceutical formulation, etc.

Diagnostics and expertise: by reconstructing the in-service conditions of failed parts to determine the root causes.

In-situ tomography services

Each service listed below is deliverable as a set of 3D/4D volume models, quantitative measurements, and an interpretation report.

In-situ mechanical testing (tensile/compression): crack initiation and propagation, micro-damage evolution

Sintering and densification monitoring: porosity closure kinetics, grain growth

In-situ thermal testing (shocks and T cycles): thermal cracking, differential expansion, relaxation, dendrites

In-operando electrochemical experiments on batteries and fuel cells: electrode expansion, porosity/chemisorption evolution, dendrite formation

In-situ corrosion/chemical reactions: deposit growth, fluid penetration, chemical attack

Monitoring of dissolution or wet pharmaceutical processes: granulation, consolidation, and porosity in granules or tablets

Digitization of food processes: cooking, freeze-drying, hydration, emulsions Custom R&D campaigns: design of state-of-the-art testing experiments or equipment

Design of testing devices for your laboratory, based on our Novi-CT Rig series or fully customized

Technical note: In-situ campaigns generate significant volumes of data (TB). We handle archiving, preprocessing (artifact correction), reconstruction, and optimisation (denoising, temporal registration).

Standard equipment and setups for in-situ studies

We design and adapt stress testing devices to the constraints of tomography and manage their integration on the synchrotron line or in the laboratory.

Miniature tensile / compression machines from 500 N to 20 kN
Heating / laser heating benches, from ambient to >1000–2000 °C for high-temperature testing
Climate chambers with controlled humidity 10% RH – 90% RH; temperature -40 °C / +60 °C
Cryogenics
Sample changers for in-operando electrochemical cell testing
Chambers for fluid injection: liquids, corrosive atmospheres

Case study for in situ tomography

Tracking the evolution of materials microstructure : in situ mechanical testing with Novi CT rig

Matériaux analysés par micro-tomographie in situ

Numerous materials and processes can be explored using in-situ micro-tomography:

Powders and vapors in consolidation, preforms for sintering.
Metal parts: additive manufacturing, mechanical test specimens, hot tensile testing
Ceramics and glasses: sintering, thermal cracking
Composites: delamination, fiber/matrix failure, consolidation
Batteries, electrodes, membranes in operando
Pharmaceutical granules and tablets: monitoring dissolution, curing, compression
Food products: extrusion, cooking, chewing, hydration
Biological samples under mechanical stress

The advantages of NOVITOM

Rreliable and rapid analyses

Analyses carried out on state-of-the-art equipment by a team of experts.

Tailor-made approach

An approach tailored to your constraints, with a technical contact person who supports you from start to finish.

Clear results

Actionable results thanks to detailed reports and 3D visuals that facilitate decision-making.

Our other materials characterization services

Analyse 3D de porosités

Analyse 3D de fibres

Caractérisation 3D de fissures

Contrôle non-destructif avancé de pièces finies

Comparaison CAO

Analyses et tests des surfaces

Comprimés et formes solides pharmaceutiques

Accompagnement et partenariat R&D

All our material characterisation techniques

Non-destructive 3D characterisation

Micro-tomography (µCT): 3D imaging with micrometer resolution
Synchrotron micro-tomography (SR-µCT): ultrafast and high-precision 3D
In situ tomography (4D): dynamic tracking under stress

Chemical analysis

Micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF): 2D, non-destructive chemical mapping
SEM/EDS: surface observation and 2D chemical mapping
Spectroscopies (XPS, FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis): surface states, aging, oxidation
DSC, TGA, DMA: stability, phase transitions

Nano and atomic characterization

X-ray diffraction/micro-diffraction: matrix crystallinity and spatially resolved crystallinity
AFM: surface topography, roughness, local mechanical properties
SAXS: characterization of nanopowders, nanometric fillers Synchrotron nanotomography: resolution down to 50 nm
AFM-IR/Nano-FTIR: nanometer-scale chemical mapping Profilometry
TEM: fiber/matrix interface observation

Multi-scale tomography

Materials and processes

Health - cosmetics: physical analysis

X-ray tomography

X-ray diffraction and scattering

Microscopy & Spectroscopy

In situ testing devices