X-ray microtomography is a technique which utilises high energy radiation in the form of X-rays to analyse 3D objects. It rotates a sample 360 degrees and directs the X-rays through the sample to a detector, where it measures the intensity of the detected radiation. Using this information it is possible to reconstruct cross sections, which can be further processed to produce virtual 3D models. This process makes it possible to investigate structures in a manner which is not possible with the human eye, due to the transparency of many materials to X-rays, as well as having a resolution in the magnitude of nano-meters.
Using our X-ray microtomography system (Bruker Skyscan 1172) we can analyse a wide array of materials ranging from tablets to sedimentary rocks. This technique is very powerful for resolving the microstructure in samples on length scales of 1 μm to 5 mm. We can use this data to compare our measurements with terahertz imaging, and, using the microstucural information obtained using X-ray tomography to explain flow phenomena, tablet disintegration and material characteristic measured using the wide array of THz setups we employ for our research.