Engineering Materials, Geosciences, Archeology & Heritage Conservation and Fast Neutron Applications

What will we see at ESS?
Safer, Lighter and Stronger Engineering Materials

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Due to their large penetration lengths in many materials, and in particular in metals, neutrons are an invaluable tool for investigating engineering materials and components, geological structures and their dynamics, and historical objects whose detailed study reveals to us the basic data of our own cultural heritage.

Neutrons also enable the non-destructive investigation of most samples, making them the ideal probe to detect hydrogenous materials and to provide information about crystalline structures.

Current Science

Imaging Team from DTU, NPI, PSI and ESS at J-PARC

SFT member Monica-Elisabeta Lăcătușu (DTU) preparing a sample at J-PARC. Click to see video.

VIDEO STILL: Courtesy of Morten Sales

Members of the Science Focus Team performed a series of experiments in Tokai, Japan, at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in spring 2018. A video account of the experiments, made as a dispatch to the 2108 annual MAX4ESSFUN meeting, can be seen here

In the experiments the team used RADEN to perform time-of-flight neutron imaging to:

  1. Characterise hydrogen diffusion (in the context of hydrogen embrittlement) in ferritic alloys;
  2. Characterise battery materials;
  3. Further develop polarized neutron imaging with a pulsed beam.

The group also continues to use the instrument SENJU (a Single Crystal Diffractometer with large detector coverage) for the development of 3D diffraction and diffraction contrast, tools that are expected to enable spatial resolved characterization of crystaline microstructures (phase, stress and texture) of bulk materials in three dimensions.

All of these experiments and the developments activities, initiated by the former SFT Coordinator, Marcus Strobl, are of high relevance to ESS and the methods that will be offered, in particular with ODIN and BEER

imaging contrast mechanisms

Scientific Potential of ESS Instruments Expands as Neutron Imaging Gets an Upgrade

Three recent review articles by ESS researchers and their colleagues highlight synergies in the development of the ESS instrument ODIN and advances in the field of neutron imaging.

Read More

ESS-KU Research Collaboration Advances New Dental Cement Possibilities

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering demonstrates proton mobility within dental cements as a function of time and temperature.

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DPS soft fuel cell

Getting Ready for ESS: Denmark’s World-Leading Universities and Industries Coordinate Research Efforts

More than 30 materials science research groups in Aarhus have joined forces to prepare for new neutron and X-ray opportunities at ESS, MAX IV and European XFEL.

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Structural Integrity of Energy Conversion Materials

One of the greatest market entry barriers of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells is their durability. The goal of these experiments is to investigate the influence of external stress on reduction rate.

CREDIT: M. Makowska

One of the greatest market entry barriers of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) is their durability. The goal of this project is to gain more insight into actual processes, which determine the microstructure and performance of SOFCs, in particular the phenomena generating strains and causing defects in the cells and thus influencing their lifetime. Most issues in SOFC development are a consequence of the high operation temperature (around 800 ̊C).

Currently we are analyzing the first in situ studies performed with the dedicated sample environment we developed for this purpose. Measurements have been performed at ISIS and PSI up to now and allowed us to follow the reduction and oxidation as well as deformation rates and cracking under various operation conditions.


Improving Dental Cements

Improved properties and increased longevity of dental materials can save significant costs and can minimize discomfort for patients. Despite their yet limited mechanical strength to survive in the challenging oral environment, the development of glass ionomer cements are an interesting option for dental fillings due to their good biocompatibility. The necessary prerequisite for further developments lies in a better understanding of the structure and hydration process of these cements. To investigate the hydrogen mobility within these cements and to shed more light on the highly complex pore structure and its development during setting  of these materials we use neutrons and X-rays

Building Europe’s Next Flagship Engineering Diffractometer: The Future is BEER

An innovative combination of research teams and research techniques leads the way to better materials.

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ESS-KU Research Collaboration Advances New Dental Cement Possibilities

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering demonstrates proton mobility within dental cements as a function of time and temperature.

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EU Supports Local Neutron Researchers: Interview with Małgorzata Makowska

Małgorzata Makowska studied how to optimise solid-oxide fuel cells, a sustainable technology in use by industry and consumers.

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BEER

Engineering Diffractometer

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Imaging Deformation and Fluid Flow in Geomaterials

Understanding the controls on the permeability of porous rocks, such as sandstone, is important in a number resource engineering challenges, in particular hydrocarbon production and CO2 sequestration (in the first case fluids are extracted from subsurface geologic formations, and in the latter fluids are injected into the same or similar formations).

Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) of neutron tomography images of a Bentheim Sandstone sample (diameter 50 mm, height 100 mm) imaged before and after being deformed at a confining pressure of 50 MPa

IMAGE: S. Hall (LU, ESS)

During such engineering operations deformation of the rock mass can occur that leads to alterations in the flow properties of the rock. However, deformation in these porous materials is, in general, not homogeneous as deformation localises into narrow shear or compaction bands, which might then evolve into fractures. These local deformation features can act as barriers to or conduits for fluid flow, depending on their evolution and resultant properties; their effect on flow is therefore a key factor in determining the storage or production capacity of a reservoir.

Neutron imaging is an ideal tool for the observation of fluid flow in rocks as hydrogen (in the flowing water) is highly attenuating to neutrons whereas sandstone, for example, is not. Therefore fluid distributions and movements inside a rock sample can easily be detected.

Realizing DREAM, a Versatile Powder Diffractometer

An international collaboration of scientists opens new horizons in powder diffraction and expands the potential for determining the structures of new and more complex materials.

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Sample Environment Systems for High Pressure and Mechanical Processing (PREMP)

Many scientific disciplines require the application of very high and uniform pressure on the sample during the neutron-scattering experiment.

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BIFROST: A Prismatic Approach to Neutron Spectroscopy

Swiss-Danish team to build a pioneering crystal analyser spectrometer optimised to study dynamics in quantum materials and matter under extreme conditions.

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DREAM

Bispectral Powder Diffractometer

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HEIMDAL

Hybrid Diffractometer

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BIFROST

Extreme Environment Spectrometer

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Neutron tomograph of the same sword

IMAGE: A. Fedrigo (CNR/KU/ESS)

Photograph of a pattern-welded Viking sword from the 10th century

PHOTO: A. Fedrigo (CNR/KU/ESS)

Understanding Historic Engineering

Historical metallurgy is one of the most interesting fields of archaeometry, especially with regards to the production and use of steel for arms and armour components. In order to correlate similar samples to a specific period or provenance, it is important to build trustworthy classification parameters that do not simply rely on aesthetics features. Scientific and technological investigations into these kinds of artefacts have usually relied on destructive analytical techniques, such as metallography. However, neutron techniques allow the measurement of bulk properties in a non-invasive way.


Inside Cereal Grains Planted Under ESS 6,000 Years Ago

We have with this project elegantly turned a full circle. Some of the first ever domesticated plants to grow in Sweden, grew under the ESS research facility 6000 years ago. The grains from this growth have been preserved and can be analyzed with the ESS technique, in turn, this will become the basis for the budding new interdisciplinary research providing answers to our questions about the past and providing knowledge for future use.

ODIN

Multi-Purpose Imaging

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Towards Mapping the Grains of Engineering Materials

The aim of the project is to enable the reconstruction of the assembly of crystalline grains that engineering materials consist of and hence to observe and understand their development and aid and control the design of corresponding materials. The principles of such 3D Neutron Diffraction (3DND) approach are based on the corresponding X-ray technique of 3D XRD [1-3] which already now enables such studies with X-rays. The analogue neutron technique is meant to overcome the limitations to small, potentially not representative sample volumes. Two principle approaches are followed in this research development project.


Reconstruction of a magnetic field in a slice though an electric coil

Image courtesy of A. Hilger, HZB

Towards Mapping Magnetic Domains

Today’s global electricity market sizes to approximately 5 trillion watts. Large power transformers play an important role in this market, being indispensable for transporting electricity along high voltage transmission lines. As such, even a small gain in efficiency, by the sheer size of the market, immediately results in a huge energy and cost saving. The core of transformers is constructed of electrical steel, where the magnetization efficiency is determined by the intricate interplay between the steel crystallites and magnetic domains. This is a crucial relation concerning energy losses in transformers and thus insights and better understanding of this interplay leading to solutions to better tune related materials are key to limiting losses and increasing energy efficiency.


Tackling Hierarchical Structures in Applied Materials

Spatial modulation of neutron beams allows achieving structural information in the small-angle scattering regime, i.e. in the nm size range, which is just beyond direct spatial resolution of neutron imaging. Such beam modulation can be achieved currently through two different approaches. Spin-echo beam modulation has been tested to date for quantitative small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and has proven to work in TOF mode (TOF-SEMSANS). Modulating the beam by a grating interferometer has been exploited extensively for dark-field imaging with only qualitative SANS information becoming available and seems limited for now for TOF applications due to the fixed grating geometry.

Scientific Potential of ESS Instruments Expands as Neutron Imaging Gets an Upgrade

Three recent review articles by ESS researchers and their colleagues highlight synergies in the development of the ESS instrument ODIN and advances in the field of neutron imaging.

Science Focus Team

Coordinator: Premek Beran

ESS Members

Phillip Bentley

Neutron optics and shielding support Co-ordinator

ESS

Premek Beran

Instrument Scientist for BEER

ESS

Christine Darve

Lead Engineer

ESS

Richard Hall-Wilton

Group leader Detector

ESS

Robin Woracek

Instrument Scientist for test beamlines and engineering

ESS

Luca Zanini

Senior Scientist

ESS

Partner Members 

  • Jochen Fenske
    Lead Scientist: BEER
    Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht
  • Małgorzata Makowska
    Beamline Scientist: NECTAR
    FRM-II/TUM
  • Markus Strobl
    Head of Neutron Imaging and Activation Group
    Paul Scherrer Institute
  • Premysl Beran
    Lead Scientist: BEER
    Nuclear Physics Institute, CAS
  • Stephen Hall
    Lund University
  • Luise Theil Kuhn
    Head of Imaging & Structural Analysis
    DTU Energy
  • Rune E. Johnsen
    Postdoc
    DTU Energy
  • Monica-Elisabeta Lăcătușu
    PhD Student
    DTU Energy
  • Søren Schmidt
    Senior Scientist
    DTU Physics
  • Morten Sales
    Postdoc
    DTU Physics
  • Ralf F. Ziesche
    PhD Student
    University College London
  • Dmytro Orlov
    Prof. of Materials Engineering
    Lund University Faculty of Engineering (LTH)
  • Manuel Morgano
    Lead Scientist: ODIN
    Paul Scherrer Institute
2018

“Neutron tomography” in Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials for Diagnostic, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (Edited by: Giuseppe Lazzara Rawil Fakhrullin), N. Kardjilov, R. Woracek, I. Manke, ISBN: 9780128139103, Publishing Date: 1st August 2018

Magnesium Technology 2018; edited by: Dmytro Orlov, Vineet V Joshi, Kiran N. Solanki, Neale R. Neelameggham; The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series // Springer, TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society), pp. 448; ISBN 978-3-319-72331-0; DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-72332-7

Kardjilov, N., Manke, I., Woracek, R., Hilger, A., Banhart, J. Advances in neutron imaging. Materials Today (2018).

Woracek, R., Santisteban, J., Fedrigo, A., & Strobl, M. Diffraction in neutron imaging — A Review. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment (2018)878, 141-158.

M. Sales, M. Strobl, T. Shinohara, A. Tremsin, L. Theil Kuhn, W. Lionheart, N. Desai, A. Bjorholm Dahl, and S. Schmidt. Three Dimensional Polarimetric Neutron Tomography of Magnetic Fields, Scientific Reports 8, 2214 (2018)
 
A. Fedrigo, K. Marstal, C. Bender Koch, V. Andersen Dahl, A.Bjorholm Dahl, M. Lyksborg , C. Gundlach, F. Ott and M. Strobl. Investigation of a Monturaqui Impactite by Means of Bi-Modal X-ray and Neutron Tomography, J. Imaging 2018, 4, 72; doi:10.3390/jimaging4050072 

M. G. Makowskaa, M. Strobl, N. Kardjilov, H. Lund Frandsen, I. Manke, M. Morgano, M. E. Lacatusu, S. de Angelis, E. Mejdal Lauridsen, L. Theil Kuhn. Investigating phase behavior and structural changes in NiO/Ni-YSZ composite with monochromatic in-situ 2D and static 3D neutron imaging, Physica B: Physics of Condensed Matter (2018)

M. Neikter, R. Woracek, T. Maimaitiyili, Ch. Scheffzük, M. Strobl, M.-L. Antti, P. Åkerfeldt, R. Pederson and C. Bjerkén. Alpha texture variations in additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V investigated with neutron diffraction, Journal of Additive Manufacturing (2018).

M. Morgano, P. Trtik, M. Meyer, E.H. Lehmann, J. Hovind, M. Strobl. Unlocking high spatial resolution in neutron imaging through an add-on fibre optics taper, Optics Express, 26, 2, (2018)
 

2017

Strobl, M., Harti, R. P., Gruenzweig, C., Woracek, R., & Plomp, J. Small Angle Scattering in Neutron Imaging — A Review.  Journal of Imaging (2017), 3(4), 64.

A. Siriruk, R. Woracek, S.B. Puplampu, D. Penumadu. Damage evolution in VARTM based carbon fiber vinyl ester marine composites and sea water effects, Journal of Sandwich, Structures and Materials, 1099636217731906 (2017)

S.B. Buete Puplampu, D. Penumadu, R. Ma, T.J. Truster, R. Woracek, A. Payzant, J.R. Bunn. Degradation of Marine Aluminum Alloy Due to Fire Exposure Using Bulk Neutron Diffraction and In Situ Loading, Materials Science & Engineering A 700, 583-591 (2017)

E. Dabah, B. Pfretzschner, T. Schaupp, N. Kardjilov, I. Manke, M. Boin, R. Woracek, A. Griesche. Time-resolved Bragg-edge neutron radiography for observing martensitic phase transformation from austenitized super martensitic steel, Journal of Materials Science, 52(6), 3490-3496 (2017)

M. Sales, J. Plomp, W. G. Bouwman, A. S. Tremsin, K. Habicht and M. Strobl. On the analysis of time-of-flight spin-echo modulated dark-field imaging data, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 862 (2017) 012026  
 
A. Cereser, M. Strobl, S. A. Hall, A. Steuwer, R. Kiyanagi, A. S. Tremsin, E. B. Knudsen, T. Shinohara, P. K. Willendrup, A. Bastos da Silva Fanta, S. Iyengar, P. M. Larsen, T. Hanashima, T. Moyoshi, P. M. Kadletz, P. Krooß, T. Niendorf, M. Sales, W. W. Schmahl, and S. Schmidt. Time-of-Flight Three Dimensional Neutron Diffraction in Transmission Mode for Mapping Crystal Grain Structures, Scientific Reports 2017; 7: 9561.

Anna Fedrigo, Francesco Grazzi, Alan R. Williams, [...], Markus Strobl. Extraction of archaeological information from metallic artefacts—A neutron diffraction study on Viking swords, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 12: 425-436 (2017)
 
R. P. Harti, C. Kottler, J. Valsecchi, M. Strobl, [...], C. Grünzweig. Visibility simulation of realistic grating interferometers including grating geometries and energy spectra, Optics Express 25(2) (2017)

R. P. Harti, M. Strobl, B. Betz, K. Jefimovs, M. Kagias, C. Gruenzweig. Sub-pixel correlation length neutron imaging: Spatially resolved scattering information of microstructures on a macroscopic scale, Scientific Reports 7:44588 (2017) | DOI: 10.1038/srep44588
 
M. Makowska, L. Theil-Kuhn, H. L. Frandsen, E. M. Lauridsen, S. De Angelis, L. N. Cleemann, M. Morgano, P. Trtik, M. Strobl. Coupling between creep and redox behavior in nickel - yttria stabilized zirconia observed in-situ by monochromatic neutron imaging, Journal of Power Sources 340 (2017) 167–175

D. Di Martino, E. P. Cippo, I. Uda, M.P. Riccardi, R. Lorenzi, A. Scherillo, M. Morgano, C. Cucini, G. Gorini. Disclosing mineralogical phases in medioeval iron nails by non-destructive neutron techniques, Archaeological And Anthropological Sciences, 9, 4, (2017)

Magnesium Technology 2017; edited by: Kiran N. Solanki, Dmytro Orlov, Alok Singh, Neale R. Neelameggham; The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series // Springer, TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society), pp. 689; ISBN 978-3-319-52391-0; DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-52392-7;

2015

A. Fedrigo, F. Grazzi, A. Williams, S. Kabra, M. Zoppi. Phase composition mapping of a 17th century Japanese helmet. J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 30, 707 (2015).

A. Tremsin, N. Kardjilov, M. Strobl et al. Imaging of dynamic magnetic fields with spin-polarized neutron beams. New Journal of Physics (2015).

A. Benetti, J. Jacobsen, B. Lehnhoff, N. Momsen, D.V. Okhrimenko, M. Telling, N. Kardjilov, M. Strobl, T. Seydel, I. Manke, H. Bordallo. How mobile are protons in the structure of dental glass ionomer cements?. Scientific Reports 5 (2015) 8972 doi:10.1038/srep08972.

M.G. Makowska, M. Strobl, E.M. Lauridsen, H.L. Frandsen,  A.S. Tremsin, N. Karjilov, I. Manke, J.F. Kelleher, L.T. Kuhn. Effect of stress on NiO reduction in solid oxide fuel cells - a new application of energy-resolved neutron imaging. J. Appl. Cryst. 48, 1 (2015).

M. Sales, J. Plomp, K. Habicht, M. Strobl. Investigating time-of-flight spin-echo modulation for small-angle neutron scattering through experiments and simulation. J. Appl. Cryst. 48 (2015) 92-96.

2013

A. Hiess , E. Oksanen & M. Strobl. Moving towards unique neutron science possibilities. Neutron News, 24:1 (2013) 26-28.

Charalampidou, E-M. Hall, S.A., Stanchits, S., Lewis, H. and Viggiani, G. Shear-enhanced compaction band identification at the laboratory scale using acoustic and full-field methods. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences (2013) in Press.

Andò , E., Viggiani, G., Hall, S.A., and Desrues, J. Experimental micro-mechanics of granular media studied by x-ray tomography: recent results and challenges . Géotechnique Letters 3, (2013) 142–146.

S.A. Hall. Characterisation of fluid flow in a shear-band in Porous rock using neutron radiography. Geophysical Research Letters, 40, (2013) 2613–2618.

Vitone, C., Viggiani, G., Cotecchia, F., and Hall, S.A. Localized deformation in intensely fissured clays studied by 2D digital image correlation. Acta Geotechnica, 8, (2013) 247-263.

Vitone, C., Cotecchia, F., Viggiani, G. and Hall, S.A. Strain fields and mechanical response of a high to medium fissured bentonite clay. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 37, (2013) 1510-1534.

C. J. Garvey, M. Strobl, A. Percot, J. Saroun, J. Haug, W. Vyverman, V. A. Chepurnov, J. M. Ferris. Small angle neutron scattering on an absolute intensity scale and the internal surface of diatom frustules from three species of differing morphologies. Eur Biophys J 42(5):395-404 (2013).

2012
S.A. Hall, J. Desrues, G. Viggiani, P. Bésuelle, and E. Andò
Experimental characterisation of (localised) deformation phenomena in granular geomaterials from sample down to inter- and intra-grain scales, in Full field measurements and identification in Solid Mechanics
Procedia IUTAM, 4, (2012) 54–65 (Invited talk & paper).
 
Andò, E., Hall, S.A., Viggiani, G., Desrues, J. and Bésuelle, P.,
Experimental micromechanics: grain-scale observation of sand deformation
Géotechnique Letters, 2, (2012) 107–112
 
Duxbury, A., White, D., Samson, C., Hall, S.A., Wookey, J. and Kendall, J-M.
Fracture mapping using AVOA analysis at the Weyburn CO2 storage site
Geophysics, 77 (2012) N17
 
N. Kardjilov, I. Manke, A. Hilger, M. Strobl et al.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH 103, 2 (2012) 151-154
 
Kreuzer M, Strobl M, Reinhardt M, Hemmer MC, Hauß T, Dahint R, Steitz R.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012
 
S.H. Williams, A. Hilger, N. Kardjilov, I. Manke, M. Strobl, P.A. Douissard, T. Martin, H. Riesemeier and J. Banhart
Detection system for microimaging with neutrons
JINST 7 P02014 (2012)
 
M. Strobl, W.G. Bouwman, F. Wieder, Ch. Duiff, A. Hilger, N. Kardjilov, I. Manke
Using a grating analyser for SEMSANS investigations in the very small angle range
Physica B 407 (2012) 4132–4135
 
M. Strobl, R. Woracek, N. Kardjilov, A. Hilger, D. Penumadu, R. Wimpory, A.Tremsin, T. Wilpert, C. Schulz, I. Manke
Time-of-flight neutron imaging for spatially resolved strain investigations based on Bragg edge transmission at a reactor source
Nucl. Instr. Meth A 651 (2012) 149–155
 
A.S. Tremsin, E.H. Lehmann, N. Kardjilov, M. Strobl, I. Manke, J.B. McPhate, J.V. Vallerga, O.H.W. Siegmund, W.B. Feller
Refraction contrast imaging and edge effects in neutron radiography
Journal of Instrumentation - J INSTRUM , vol. 7, no. 02, pp. C02047-C02047, 2012
 
M. Strobl, A.S. Tremsin, A. Hilger, F. Wieder, N. Kardjilov, I. Manke, W.G. Bouwman, J. Plomp
TOF-SEMSANS - Time-of-flight spin-echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering
J. Appl. Phys. 112, 014503 (2012)
 
M Boin, R C Wimpory, A Hilger, N Kardjilov, S Y Zhang and M Strobl
Monte Carlo simulations for the analysis of texture and strain measured with Bragg edge neutron transmission
J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 340, 012022 (2012) 51-154

Science Drivers 

Engineering Materials and Geosciences
engineering icon

Neutron scattering has established itself as a unique and important probe for the structure and dynamics of materials due to the neutron's penetration power and its sensitivity to the presence of light elements, in particular hydrogen.

For Materials Sciences its widespread use ranges from the analysis of engineering materials and components, often with direct application in industrial R&D and construction materials, to geo-materials in Earth Sciences.

What will we see at ESS?
Safer, Lighter and Stronger Engineering Materials

Read more

The penetration ability of neutrons is of prominent importance. It allows scientists to investigate non-destructively the properties of bulk materials, complex assemblies such as multi-component devices, and to investigate inner structure and processes with high precision and sensitivity. Not only can various aspects of structures deep inside a bulk component be investigated locally, as in the case of engineering materials, but the penetration capabilities also allow the study of materials in complex sample environments in order to achieve extreme conditions under which materials, components and devices work, are operating or processed.

These studies have in common that samples are very often sensitive with respect to the chemical and physical parameters, such as the chemical composition and temperatures and pressures underlying the formation, and transformation of secondary phases in metals, minerals, the functionality and stresses of materials, and complex components in operation etc., in contrast to isolated and well-defined samples used for fundamental studies. However, the range of applications in these various fields collected in this section is naturally too broad to provide a full picture of the benefits of neutrons, and especially how the ESS instruments will contribute to the gain of invaluable knowledge in these areas in the future. Therefore, the discussion will be restricted to a few key areas and challenges ESS will be able to address. Keeping in mind what neutron scattering and imaging have already achieved in these fields, however, it is to be outlined how ESS can take applications, gain knowledge and technology further into the future, and where current limitations can be overcome. Here the high brilliance combined with efficient instrumentation due to the time structure of the ESS source will allow us to measure smaller samples under more extreme conditions and/or on shorter time scales, which is relevant for in-situ time dependent measurements, as well as higher spatial resolution, which together will allow us to address currently not amenable phenomena.

In Materials Science and Engineering, neutron scattering provides information about the composition, phases, microstructure and stresses in materials in ambient conditions, as well as a function of some external parameters. In particular, for engineering this encompasses alloy developmentmaterials processing to joining technology, and gives engineers a unique insight into real components [1] used in aircraft, as well as power generation technology. Here ESS, with specific diffraction, imaging, and small angle scattering instrumentation, will allow, especially for in-situ studies, joining and processing and deformation, but also investigations of thermo-mechanical treatments and near-surface measurements of the effects of surface treatments, special combined macro-visualisation, and microstructural studies of components, as well as of new materials, due to technological demand like martensitic TRIP steels and precipitation hardening for aerospace, aluminium and nickel super alloys, to name but a few. Additional novel capabilities include magnetic phenomena of engineering relevance such as domain-structure design in transformer steels.

earth science image

Investigations will become possible to allow for modelling of tectonic processes and rock anisotropies through texture and stress analysis of poly-mineralic rocks.

IMAGE: H-R Wenk, 'Application of Neutron Scattering in Earth Sciences'. JOM, Vol.64 (1), 2012.

Additionally, in Earth and Environmental Sciences, the presence of water or hydrogen in general plays a major role. Neutrons are highly sensitive to hydrogen (as opposed to X-rays), which is present in minerals and rocks, regulating a large variety of behaviours and properties from the atomic to the macroscopic (continental) scale. There hydrogen is generally present in the form of free or bound hydroxide ions, within either structurally active sites or interstitial cavities in the crystalline structure. Neutrons enable not only measurements of structural changes in minerals at very high pressures and temperatures, the locations of light elements in complex structures, as well as strain measurements of polycrystalline aggregates under non ambient conditions (diffraction), but also the dynamical properties (spectroscopy). Such information is key for modelling and understanding fundamental processes in the Earth’s crust, ranging from large-scale phenomena, such as deep-focus earthquakes and volcanic activities, to the transport and disposal of pollutants in soil, but also to stone preservation in monuments, and water movement in rocks and soil with relevance in agriculture, e.g. connected to root growth (imaging).

What will we see at ESS?
Unlocking the Secrets of Water

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However, in the future only ESS will be able to challenge phenomena structure-property relationships in mineral phases under geological conditions in in-situ measurements, e.g. ESS diffractometers allowing for extreme condition environments as well as structure, reactivity and physical properties of multi-component melts and fluids under such geological conditions. Furthermore ,investigations will become possible to allow for modelling of tectonic processes and rock anisotropies through texture and stress analysis of poly-mineralic rocks [2] (figure) but also geo-materials sands, in addition to unprecedented high resolution studies of water transport in rocks and soils in 4D through neutron imaging.

Industry relevant applications in this area range from hydrogen storage and transport, fuel-cell development (both of interest for sustainable energy and transportation technology), cooling processes, soot sedimentation, as connected to combustion processes, nuclear and other engineering materials (as outlined above), key construction materials, like concrete and wood, to name but a few. ESS instrumentation and source power will in particular allow faster and more detailed process monitoring and assessment, and provide results key for the optimisation of complex devices (engines, fuel cells, cooling, glued interfaces) especially, also through the unique combinations of methods like diffraction, SANS and imaging on such components.

Relevant instrumentation in these areas convey the planned high flux SANS, small sample SANS, cold and thermal chopper spectrometers, backscattering, multi purpose high resolution imaging, powder diffractometer, engineering diffraction.


References

[1] W Kaysser et al. Research with Neutron and Synchrotron  Radiation on Aerospace and Automotive Materials and Components. ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS 2011, 13, No. 8

[2] H-R Wenk, 'Application of Neutron Scattering in Earth Sciences'. JOM, Vol.64 (1), 2012.

Archeology and Heritage Conservation
archaeology icon

For Cultural Heritage, the penetration deep into complex specimens, to address their composition and structure non-destructively, is not only an invaluable aspect of the investigation of artefacts but also improves our understanding of historical artistic/cultural techniques, ancient manufacturing methods, and, when paleontological samples are addressed, even the evolution of life.

Similar to the study of complex devices and processes for industry, simultaneous diffraction/SANS/imaging studies linking macroscopic and microscopic structures and features are invaluable for sensitive samples of historical and cultural value, as well as their analysis and understanding of their origin and as such constitute a unique potential at ESS. Neutrons can penetrate through coatings and layers of corrosion, and there is generally very little need for cleaning or sample preparation.

However, some historical artefacts are very valuable, and special provisions have to be made for handling, storing and transporting the sample. Occasionally, the sample may become activated for a limited period of time and requires special, secured storage. 

Additionally, neutrons have an advantage in the investigation of wooden materials[1]. The figure shows an Indonesian dagger sheath, which has a silver-containing metal cover outside and a wooden structure inside (Top: neutron transmission image: below left: visualised neutron tomography data; below right: visualised X-ray tomography data). It is only possible to investigate the inner wooden parts when neutrons are applied.

For Archeology, similar to cultural heritage, the penetration capabilities place neutrons at the forefront of non-destructive investigations of archeological artefacts [2,3]. A new complete and articulated specimen of a titanosaur egg has been investigated in ovo, the first of its kind and in the world (and hence too valuable for destructive testing), and only made visible by Neutron tomography. This finding attests that a group of lithostrotian titanosaurs was indisputably reproducing at the Aptian–Albian Algui Ulaan Tsav site, Mongolia.

Additionally, in some materials, the contrast between fossilised material and the surrounding minerals is so weak that only by using the phase change of the neutrons waves is it possible to reveal the inner structure of fossils. 


References: 

[1] E. H. Lehmann, D. Mannes, 'Wood investigations by means of radiation transmission techniques', Journal of Cultural Heritage, Volume 13, Issu[1]e 3, Supplement, September 2012, Pages S35–S43

[2] B. Winkler, "Applications of Neutron Radiography and Neutron Tomography", Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2006, v. 63, p. 459-471

[3] G. Grellet-Tenner et al, "Description of the first lithostrotian titanosaur embryo in ovo with Neutron characterization and implications for lithostrotian Aptian migration and dispersion",  GONDWANA RESEARCH,  Vol. 20 (2-3), pp. 621-629

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