Correlative Tomography

Abstract

Increasingly researchers are looking to bring together perspectives across multiple scales, or to combine insights from different techniques, for the same region of interest. To this end, correlative microscopy has already yielded substantial new insights in two dimensions (2D). Here we develop correlative tomography where the correlative task is somewhat more challenging because the volume of interest is typically hidden beneath the sample surface. We have threaded together x-ray computed tomography, serial section FIB-SEM tomography, electron backscatter diffraction and finally TEM elemental analysis all for the same 3D region. This has allowed observation of the competition between pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion at multiple scales revealing the structural hierarchy, crystallography and chemistry of veiled corrosion pits in stainless steel. With automated correlative workflows and co-visualization of the multi-scale or multi-modal datasets the technique promises to provide insights across biological, geological and materials science that are impossible using either individual or multiple uncorrelated techniques.

Time-dependent in situ measurement of atmospheric corrosion rates of duplex stainless steel wires

“…17,18 State-of-theart characterisation techniques, such as X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT), can provide non-destructive, in situ, information about the location, extent, and kinetics of damage evolution. 7,[17][18][19][20][21][22] Initial stages of localised corrosion and SCC can be visualised and quantified, with data providing the framework for life-time prediction models. 17,18,22 Corrosion characterisation so far has been limited to corrosion rate (CR) assessments derived from either electrochemical methods or weight loss measurements, which has become routine practice in quantifying aqueous CRs.…”

Advanced tomography techniques for inorganic, organic, and biological materials

“…Recently, leading work has been published integrating x-ray computed tomography, serial section FIB-SEM tomography, electron backscatter diffraction, and TEM elemental analysis on the same sample. 51 Such correlative multiscale tomography approaches can be extended to many fi elds and research problems. The article by Bradley and Withers describes the applications of this method toward structural biomaterials.…”

Emerging surface characterization techniques for carbon steel corrosion: a critical brief review

“…This technique was also used to observe pit formation and helped in the formation of pitting mechanism development in austenitic steel. High resolution (0.8 µm 3 voxel size) revealed that pitting corrosion shows intergranular corrosion due to low pH and high molarity of metal cations in the pit cavities [92]. …”