A close look into foamy depths

Foam and porous materials can claim to be more than just a lot of air. Because of their special physical properties, these materials are increasingly being deployed in various technical applications. New software displays and analyzes their 3D structures down to the last pore.

Nature provides the example: The quill of a birds feather is hollow, yet sturdy. A hard bone or piece of wood is not solid, but contains a pored inner structure. The lightness of being has meanwhile found its way into the world of materials research. Take for example metal foams, which are suitable for manufacturing lightweight, yet stiff components for cars. These materials all possess filigree three-dimensional structures made of pores, hollow cavities and bridges which do more than just determine their macroscopic mechanical behavior. If closer examination is required, optical microscopes only reveal two-dimensional views of the samples micro-sections. With highly porous or soft materials, this process can fail entirely as the samples may be deformed when sliced and polished.
X-ray based micro computer tomography is therefore increasingly being used to perform detailed examinations of inner structures in 3D. To visualize tomographic data on a monitor, there are a variety of programs. To display such pictures, is only the beginning, says Dr. Joachim Ohser from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM. Until now, researchers have lacked sufficiently advanced software to accurately analyze data and images. In Ohsers department Models and Algorithms in Image Processing researchers have developed a set of software programs in cooperation with Berlin-based aquinto AG. a4i 3D - Applications for Imaging 3D - combines a base image processing program with various analysis modules. It enables flexible, computer-based examination of many geometrical parameters.
A few practical examples: In many industrial processes particles are filtered from gases and liquids. Until now developers, manufacturers and users have had no way to rationally analyze materials like open-cell ceramics. With a4i 3D we start to accurately determine the shape, size and distribution of the pores, emphasizes Jörg Adler from the ceramic filters group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Sintered Materials IKTS. For our project partners this is a prerequisite to understand and optimize the properties of their products.
Another field is food industry. We even analyzed marshmallows for a US candy manufacturer. Apparently, the structure of the sugary foam influences their taste, concludes Ohser with a sly grin.,Contacts: ,Dr. Joachim Ohser ,Phone: +49/ 6 31 / 3 03-18 69 ,Fax: +49/ 06 31 / 3 03-18 11 ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Fraunhofer-Institut fur Techno- und Wirtschaftsmathematik ITWM,Gottlieb-Daimler-Stra?e, Geb. 49 ,D-67663 Kaiserslautern
Jorg Adler ,Phone: +49/ 3 51 / 25 53-5 15 ,Fax: +49/ 3 51 / 25 54-3 33 ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Fraunhofer IKTS

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