Nano Computed Tomography
Nano-CT (Nano Computed Tomography) is a non-destructive X-ray imaging technique that reconstructs a sample's internal 3D structure at sub-micron voxel resolution.
O que é NANO-CT
How Nano-CT Reveals Internal 3D Structure at Sub-Micron Resolution
Nano-CT (Nano Computed Tomography) works on the same principle as micro-CT, rotating a sample through a series of X-ray transmission images and reconstructing them into a three-dimensional volume, but uses a finer X-ray source and detector geometry to reach voxel resolutions below one micron, into the tens to hundreds of nanometers. This extra resolution reveals finer internal features, such as nanoscale porosity, thin coating layers and fine fiber or particle structure, that fall below the reach of conventional micro-CT, while remaining fully non-destructive to the intact sample. It is used where internal nanoscale detail, not just microscale detail, is required.
What sets us apart
We don't hand over a spectrum. We hand over the interpretation.
Any lab can return peaks and numbers. Our report reads the data. Three differences define what we deliver — illustrated below with a real, anonymized case.
Multiple techniques, one integrated report
We don't hand back five loose reports. We cross-reference every technique's results into a single reading — each signal checked against the others — to reach an answer, not a pile of data.
- Contamination investigation — identifying and tracing the source of a foreign species.
- Performance degradation — explaining why a batch behaves outside expectations.
- New supplier validation — proving equivalence before switching.
3 LDPE batches · 4 techniques converge, NMR reveals the difference
In semicrystalline polymer systems, thermomechanical processing variables influence chain conformational dynamics¹. Solid-state NMR resolves chemical environments at the nanometer scale², sensitive to changes not detectable by XRD or FTIR³.
Technical justification anchored in the literature
Every technique choice and every inference in the report is backed by peer-reviewed literature — with citations in the text. The conclusion isn't loose opinion: it's a traceable argument, defensible in an audit and in front of the client.
- Numbered citations linking claim to source
- Official standards and methods referenced per analyte
- Auditable reasoning end to end
Conclusion and expert opinion
The report closes with a clear position, signed by the Principal Investigator: what the data shows, what can't yet be claimed, and the next step. It includes an honest caveat on the limits of inference — what separates a technical opinion from a guess.
- Explicit technical position, not just results
- Inference limits declared honestly
- Next-step recommendation signed by the P.I.
Four techniques confirmed equivalence; only the solid-state NMR revealed the subtle conformational change not distinguishable by conventional QC — a molecular signature consistent with the atypical filtration behavior.
Without the industrial line's parameters, no direct causal correlation can be established — a complementary step is recommended for elucidation.
Aplicações de mercado
Onde a NANO-CT entrega resultados
Market Applications
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Nano Computed Tomography (Nano-CT)
How does nano-CT differ from micro-CT?
- Nano-CT uses the same computed-tomography principle as micro-CT — reconstructing a 3D volume from many X-ray projections — but achieves sub-micron resolution, roughly an order of magnitude finer than micro-CT's micrometer-scale resolution, at the cost of a smaller field of view and a smaller maximum sample size.
What sample size limitations does nano-CT have?
- Because resolution and field of view trade off directly against each other in X-ray tomography, nano-CT samples are generally limited to a few millimeters or less in size — larger samples that need this level of detail typically require a smaller sub-sample to be extracted first.
What kinds of features can nano-CT resolve that micro-CT cannot?
- Nano-CT can resolve fine internal nanostructure such as sub-micron porosity, thin coating layers, nanoparticle distribution within a matrix, and delicate internal architecture that would appear as a single blurred region under micro-CT's coarser resolution.
Is nano-CT a replacement for electron microscopy?
- Not typically — nano-CT's resolution, while much finer than micro-CT, does not reach the nanometer-to-atomic resolution of TEM or SEM. Its advantage is non-destructive, fully three-dimensional internal imaging without sectioning, which electron microscopy generally cannot provide for an intact sample.
How long does a nano-CT scan take compared to micro-CT?
- Nano-CT scans generally take longer than micro-CT, since achieving finer resolution requires collecting more projection images and longer exposure times per projection — actual scan time depends on the sample, the resolution required, and the level of detail needed in the reconstruction.
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