Using X-ray micro computed tomography (X-µCT), a relatively new technique used in advanced materials research, we are developing sophisticated methods to visualize and characterize the complex, internal and surface three-dimensional structure of porous materials. These provide a non-intrusive tool to quantify the structural details such as porosity, interfacial area, tortuosity, pore size distribution, structural anisotrophy etc.
Using the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute resources, we are also developing numerical methods such as Brownian motion random walk simulation to estimate the transport properties of porous media such as diffusivity, permeability, conductivity using actual 3D images. Working in collaboration with a consortium of international researchers we are in the process of developing high resolution tomography techniques (using facilities in the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France)) as well as additional methods for estimating transport, mechanical and optical properties of porous media.
Here is a sample 3D image of paper sample made from cellulose fibers captured using X-ray micro computed tomography:
https://mediaspace.umn.edu/media/0_dpbblwaz
Here is another 3D image of a synthetic nonwoven fabric generally used as a carrier fabric in paper manufacturing
https://mediaspace.umn.edu/media/0_0lqblfp3
Here is a recent paper presented at the AICHE meeting, November 2020