scholarly journals Microstructural characterization of a Canadian oil sand

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 1212-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Hong Doan ◽  
Pierre Delage ◽  
Jean François Nauroy ◽  
Anh Minh Tang ◽  
Souhail Youssef

The microstructure of oil sand samples extracted at a depth of 75 m from the estuarine Middle McMurray Formation (Alberta, Canada) has been investigated using high resolution three-dimensional (3D) X-ray microtomography (µCT) and cryo scanning electron microscopy (CryoSEM). µCT images evidenced some dense areas composed of highly angular grains surrounded by fluids, which are separated by larger pores full of gas. In dense areas, 3D image analysis provided porosity values comparable with in situ log data and macroscopic laboratory determinations, showing that they are representative of intact states. µCT hence provided some information on the morphology of the cracks and disturbance created by gas expansion. The CryoSEM technique, in which the sample is freeze fractured within the SEM chamber prior to observation, provided pictures in which the (frozen) bitumen clearly appears between the sand grains. No evidence of the existence of a thin connate water layer between grains and the bitumen, frequently mentioned in the literature, has been obtained. Bitumen appears to strongly adhere to the grains, with some grains being completely coated. The curved shape of some bitumen menisci suggests a bitumen wet behaviour.

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 808-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrashekara S. Kaira ◽  
Carl R. Mayer ◽  
V. De Andrade ◽  
Francesco De Carlo ◽  
Nikhilesh Chawla

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) nondestructive microstructural characterization was performed using full-field transmission X-ray microscopy on an Sn-rich alloy, at a spatial resolution of 60 nm. This study highlights the use of synchrotron radiation along with Fresnel zone plate optics to perform absorption contrast tomography for analyzing nanoscale features of fine second phase particles distributed in the tin matrix, which are representative of the bulk microstructure. The 3D reconstruction was also used to quantify microstructural details of the analyzed volume.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1015 ◽  
pp. 688-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Bai Qing Xiong ◽  
Yong An Zhang ◽  
Hong Wei Liu ◽  
...  

An innovative spray deposition technique has been applied to produce in situ TiB2/Zn-30Al-1Cu composites. The microstructures of the spray-deposited composite were studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The results have shown that the TiB2particulates are formed in the microstructure. It was found that the TiB2particles were distributed in Zn-30Al-1Cu matrix uniformly, and the TiB2particles are about 2μm in size.


2006 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 1109-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Velhinho ◽  
Francisco Manuel Braz Fernandes ◽  
S.C. Ferreira ◽  
L.A. Rocha ◽  
Gerard Vignoles ◽  
...  

This paper provides a brief overview of the possibilities offered by X-ray computed microtomography, and particularly synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography, regarding metal matrix composite characterization, emphasis being placed in the case of Al-based functionally graded materials. Examples are provided concerning the characterization of the reinforcement population, interfacial properties, in-situ transformation and damage evolution. The specific needs of the technique and limitations to its widespread use are mentioned.


2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 994-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay Tumanov ◽  
Voraksmy Ban ◽  
Agnieszka Poulain ◽  
Yaroslav Filinchuk

Mechanochemistry is flourishing in materials science, but a characterization of the related processes is difficult to achieve. Recently, the use of plastic jars in shaker mills has enabledin situX-ray powder diffraction studies at high-energy beamlines. This paper describes an easy way to design and manufacture these jars by three-dimensional (3D) printing. A modified wall thickness and the use of a thin-walled sampling groove and a two-chamber design, where the milling and diffraction take place in two communicating volumes, allow for a reduced background/absorption and higher angular resolution, with the prospect for use at lower-energy beamlines. 3D-printed polylactic acid jars show good mechanical strength and they are also more resistant to solvents than jars made of polymethyl methacrylate. The source files for printing the jars are available as supporting information.


MRS Bulletin ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene E. Ice ◽  
Bennett C. Larson

AbstractIn this article, the authors describe the principle and application of differential-aperture x-ray microscopy (DAXM). This recently developed scanning x-ray microprobe technique uses a confocal or traveling pinhole camera approach to determine the crystal structure, crystallographic orientation, and elastic and plastic strain tensors within bulk materials. The penetrating properties of x-rays make the technique applicable to optically opaque as well as transparent materials, and it is nondestructive; this provides for in situ, submicrometer-resolution characterization of local crystal structure and for measurements of microstructure evolution on mesoscopic length scales from tenths to hundreds of micrometers. Examples are presented that illustrate the use of DAXM to study grain and subgrain morphology, grain-boundary types and networks, and local intra- and intergranular elastic and plastic deformation. Information of this type now provides a direct link between the actual structure and evolution in materials and increasingly powerful computer simulations and multiscale modeling of materials microstructure and evolution.


Author(s):  
R. E. Herfert

Studies of the nature of a surface, either metallic or nonmetallic, in the past, have been limited to the instrumentation available for these measurements. In the past, optical microscopy, replica transmission electron microscopy, electron or X-ray diffraction and optical or X-ray spectroscopy have provided the means of surface characterization. Actually, some of these techniques are not purely surface; the depth of penetration may be a few thousands of an inch. Within the last five years, instrumentation has been made available which now makes it practical for use to study the outer few 100A of layers and characterize it completely from a chemical, physical, and crystallographic standpoint. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) provides a means of viewing the surface of a material in situ to magnifications as high as 250,000X.


2016 ◽  
Vol 108 (21) ◽  
pp. 211902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Chen ◽  
Nobumichi Tamura ◽  
Alastair MacDowell ◽  
Richard D. James

Author(s):  
Shabana Noor ◽  
Richard Goddard ◽  
Fehmeeda Khatoon ◽  
Sarvendra Kumar ◽  
Rüdiger W. Seidel

AbstractSynthesis and structural characterization of two heterodinuclear ZnII-LnIII complexes with the formula [ZnLn(HL)(µ-OAc)(NO3)2(H2O)x(MeOH)1-x]NO3 · n H2O · n MeOH [Ln = Pr (1), Nd (2)] and the crystal and molecular structure of [ZnNd(HL)(µ-OAc)(NO3)2(H2O)] [ZnNd(HL)(OAc)(NO3)2(H2O)](NO3)2 · n H2O · n MeOH (3) are reported. The asymmetrical compartmental ligand (E)-2-(1-(2-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)amino)-ethyl)imidazolidin-2-yl)-6-methoxyphenol (H2L) is formed from N1,N3-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H2valdien) through intramolecular aminal formation, resulting in a peripheral imidazoline ring. The structures of 1–3 were revealed by X-ray crystallography. The smaller ZnII ion occupies the inner N2O2 compartment of the ligand, whereas the larger and more oxophilic LnIII ions are found in the outer O2O2’ site. Graphic Abstract Synthesis and structural characterization of two heterodinuclear ZnII-LnIII complexes (Ln = Pr, Nd) bearing an asymmetrical compartmental ligand formed in situ from N1,N3-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H2valdien) through intramolecular aminal formation are reported.


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