2D X-ray diffraction gains a trade mark
The XPECTION project created a prototype of a unified measuring and monitoring system for residual life-time assessment of high temperature plant components in fossil power generation and the chemical industry. An interdisciplinary angle spanning various research fields was employed to create an innovative inspection methodology using real structure analysis with on site X-ray diffraction. This was then incorporated into the basic structure of inspection and maintenance. The primary innovative feature of the two-dimensional X-ray diffraction process is that it unveils the real crystallographic structure of the material. Given this, information regarding the grain size and texture, which correlate with the ageing state of the material can be obtained. This can be commercially beneficial because it can lessen the replaced material using a non-destructive assessment of the ageing state. Although the application is primarily targeted for inspection and maintenance, it can also be used for quality control in production and inspection in other fields. End users are many including fossil as well as other electric power generation, petro-chemical industry, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, and the pulp and paper, chemical and food industries.