In a newly published article in the Journal of Applied Crystallography, researchers present the development and application of a laboratory-based technique for 3D X-ray micro-beam Laue diffraction. This non-destructive method enables high-resolution characterization of crystalline materials, with a focus on detecting smaller grains. Successfully integrated into a conventional X-ray CT system, the technique demonstrated promising results—reconstructing grains in the 10–20 µm range with orientation uncertainties as low as 0.01°.
Lab-3DmXRD combines focused polychromatic X-ray beams with a scanning-tomographic acquisition routine. Validated against LabDCT and synchrotron phase contrast tomography, the method proved effective in detecting smaller grains and capturing intragranular orientation data in a laboratory setting. While synchrotron access remains limited, this technique addresses a key challenge in crystallography: mapping grains below 20 µm, which has been difficult using existing lab-based methods like LabDCT.
The approach maximizes photon utilization through polychromatic beams and employs advanced focusing optics to concentrate the beam for intragranular analysis. By scanning the sample and collecting Laue diffraction images at multiple angles, the method reconstructs 3D grain structures using principles adapted from scanning 3DXRD.
Researchers affiliated with DTU’s 3D Imaging Center played central roles in the development, including hardware integration, data acquisition, and validation. Future improvements aim to enhance grain detection and reduce acquisition time, further expanding the technique’s capabilities.
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