Tyree X-ray Micro-CT Facility (Micro-CT)
Who we are
The Tyree X-ray Micro-CT Laboratory offers non-destructive high-resolution 3D imaging technology to study various materials. Our facility uses advanced software to process micro-CT images.
Micro-CT can be combined with micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to develop a workflow incorporating statistical analysis and deep learning segmentation. This approach enables interpolation of the 2D data into 3D volume. A standout feature is the integration of various pressure cells into the imaging workflow for in-situ studies.
Funding partners:
Capabilities
Applications
Instruments
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Special TESCAN CoreTOM design installed in a dedicated, temperature stabilised (ΔT<0.5°C), lead-lined room. The design allows easy access to the equipment and the ability to integrate complex flow experiments with the imaging system. TESCAN CoreTOM combines a single instrument with the typical field of view of a medical CT system with the high-resolution imaging performance capabilities of laboratory micro-CT systems.
It can image full cores up to 1 meter (~3 ft) in length, down to mm-size micro-plugs or drill cuttings at 3 µm spatial resolution. This makes the TESCAN CoreTOM the ideal system for multiscale imaging from core to pore. Equipped with a high-powered micro focus X-ray source, the TESCAN CoreTOM enables high sample throughput and fast dynamic imaging with temporal resolutions below 10 seconds for a full 3D acquisition (up to 100 fps read-out modes).
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The Micro CT-2 is a HeliScan micro-CT Mark 1 from ThermoFisher. The equipment has a Hamamatsu X-Ray Tube (160kV/16W with diamond windows) and high-quality flatbed detector (3,072 × 3,072 pixel, 3.75 fps readout rate).
The Tyree X-Ray facility offers tomographic imaging with a large dynamic range, excellent field of view (FOV) and a very high resolution. By operating our X-ray source and high-quality flatbed detector in its helical scanning mode, we can produce tomograms with resolutions at sub-micro levels of 0.9 µm.
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Our facility also has advanced and massively parallel software to process images generated from the micro-CT. We have both in-house and commercial software using Avizo.
Our people
Fees
Micro-CT imaging using our HeliScan and CoreTOM is a paid service.
How to access
Due to radiation licensing restrictions, micro-CT instruments are only operated by facility staff.
Please get in touch with us at tyreexray@unsw.edu.au to schedule a consultation or arrange training.
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During this meeting, we will discuss your sample requirement (sample diameter vs. resolution), risk assessment (if you are performing in situ study), data processing, how to gain access to our computer lab for data processing and what training/induction will be required.
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Sign up to UNSW's ACLS booking system (button below). Once registered you can choose Tyree X-Ray Micro-CT Facility from the list of facilities to reserve time on the instruments.
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All users must fill in a sample submission form to describe the imaging aim, number of samples, project to charge, and relevant risk assessment approved by the supervisor (for in-situ study). The supervisor must sign this form.
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Normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00-18:00) will be granted once you complete your induction. If you require after-hours access, you need to fill in HS703 form (hyperlink to download the form) and get approval from your supervisor.
Micro-CT staff can provide basic training in Avizo software (eg: how to load the file, cropping, and volume rendering). For advanced applications of the software (eg: segmentation, different extension packages) tutorials, opens in a new window are available on Thermofisher website.
Contact us
Tyree X-ray micro-CT Facility (Micro-CT)
Room LG22
Lower Ground
Tyree Energy Technology Building (TETB)
UNSW Sydney, NSW 2033
Phone: 02 9385 5554
Email: tyreexray@unsw.edu.au
We like to hear from you. If you have questions, requests or ideas for collaboration, please complete the contact form and we will be in touch within five business days.
Frequently asked questions
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We scan samples as small as 2 mm to samples as big as 600 mm in diametre and up to 1150 mm in height. The total sample weight should be less than 45 Kg. Samples of any shape can be scanned; however, the optimal sample geometry is a cylinder with at least one side flat for easy mounting.
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In most cases, the samples are placed in a sample holder and fastened in the collet in a vertical position for the scanning without the need for any other sample prep. The choice of the appropriate sample holder depends on the sample material, size, and shape. We provide a range of standard sample holders to the users and some users also make their own sample holders based on their needs. The ideal holder should ensure that the sample does not move or wobble for the whole duration of the scan.
Our system is also capable of integrating various pressure cells/in-situ mechanical test cells into the imaging workflow. Contact us, either by email or phone for specific sample related enquiries.
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Our internal charging price is $250 + ($40 per hour of scanning), for eg: If you have a sample to be scanned for 8 hrs then it will be $250 + $40*8 = $570. However, we also have a charging agreement for bulk samples, eg: if you send more than three samples that need the same scanning parameters, the $250 will be a one-off charge (First set of experiments $570 and next three will just be $320 each).
Our industrial costing price is as follows: $400 base fee + $100/h for the actual scan, eg: if you have a sample that requires 6 hours scan, the price will be $400 + 6*$100 = $1000. Depending on the number of samples, we also have a reduced-price agreement for bulk samples (>3 samples).
Stacking small samples on top of each other can also help to scan many samples at the same time and thus decrease the overall scanning time and cost.This price quoted above is only for the micro-CT scanning job.
We provide a 3D dataset in netCDF, tiff or dicom format as the output.
If you would like us to do image analysis and/or visualization of the data, it will be at an additional cost of $200/h of the staff time to analyse your data.
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This depends largely on the sample geometry. The below table can be used as a guideline for the expected resolution of a cylindrical sample (for HeliScan system).
Sample Diameter (mm) Voxel Resolution (µm) 2 0.9 6 2.7 10 5.5 24 10 34.7 15.8 62 28 90.5 31.6 - Sample Diameter (mm)
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- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 0.9
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 6
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 2.7
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 10
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 5.5
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 24
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 10
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 34.7
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 15.8
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 62
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 28
- Sample Diameter (mm)
- 90.5
- Voxel Resolution (µm)
- 31.6
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Our facility includes a Visualisation lab that can be accessed by users for analysing the 3-D datasets of their samples scanned in our micro-CT instruments. There is a booking system for users who wish to come here to work with their data in our computers with dedicated image analysis software Avizo, Dragonfly and ImageJ. We do provide basic software training such as loading the file, volume rendering, cropping, etc. and users further analyse their data themselves. We do not charge the users for using Avizo/Dragonfly in our lab. However, please note that this is a shared facility, and we expect users to book computers only for the exact time they require.
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- Rocks, Coal, Soil, Meteorites – Three-dimensional imaging and quantification of the pore structure, visualization of fluids movement in pore spaces.
- Alloys, Concrete samples, Composites (Carbon Fibres) – Analysis of internal structure, eg: cracks/voids/porosity etc, analysis of aggregates/impurities inside concrete samples, analysis of structural changes, eg: precipitation in cement/concrete, in-situ imaging of samples during compression test.
- Batteries and Fuel Cells – 3D imaging for failure investigation of cracks and welding defects.
- Electrode materials, PCB’s - 2D/3D imaging for failure investigation of cracks and welding defects.
- Polymers (eg: polymer tubes) - 3D imaging for quality check, visualization of microstructure due to polymer degradation.
- Emulsions/Foam – 3D imaging of microstructure.
- Bones, Tissues, Tooth, 3D printed phantoms – Analysis of internal structure in Bone/Fossil, Analysis and volumetric measurement of different parts, eg: enamel and dentine in tooth.
- Plants/Roots - Analysis and volumetric measurement of plant/roots structure.
- Food (eg: Tim Tam) –3D volume analysis, texture/layer analysis, void analysis.
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Normally we have a turnaround time of 1 week. However, we try our best to accommodate samples with deadlines in between the queue based on our workload at the specific time. The best way is to contact us and discuss your time restrictions.
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We do not allow the users to operate any of our X-ray instruments as you need a radiation certificate from EPA to operate the machine. We have certified technical staff in the lab who will scan your samples and deliver the data.
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Yes, we accept samples shipped to the following address:
UNSW Lower Campus Store
GQ13, SEB. Bldg (E8). via Gate 2
High Street, Kensington, NSW-2052
Phone: 02 9385 5554
Attn: Amalia Halim/Daniel Morris/ Vedapriya PandarinathanPlease notify us by email before you ship the samples, and we ship back the samples to users after the scanning job is complete.
Get in touch about your project
We offer a range of services that can be tailored to your needs. Please send us an enquiry to get started.
