The hypothesis is that we can develop a universal laboratory-based 4D X-ray microscope (4DXRM),
with broad potential not only in the field of materials science but also beyond, and that by the use of this
novel tool we can pioneer a new era of metal research with focus on the importance of local
microstructural variations for processing, properties and performance of industrially relevant metals.
Objective 1: To develop 4DXRM with a spatial resolution 10 times better than currently possible at
laboratory-based systems that allows concurrent mapping of crystallographic orientations and
inhomogeneities such as porosities, interfaces and second phase particles.
Objective 2: To explore, analyse and quantify local microstructural variations on appropriate length
scales and employ these variations to understand the subsequent microstructural evolution during further
processing and/or use of metals. The metals to be studied will include three archetypes considered of
utmost importance for the future use of metals, namely 3D printed, multilayered and conventional
micrometer-scale metals.
Objective 3: To develop a series of much improved models for plastic deformation and annealing of
metals by full 4D validation and to establish new methodologies to couple the models into a united
multi-scale tool. The models operate on different length scales and are CPFEM, PF and MD.