Click-CT: a compact Subμ CT scanner

The Click-CT scanner is a compact sub-micrometer (subμ) CT system designed by Fraunhofer EZRT for non-destructive volumetric materials characterization at the highest standard. To achieve high-contrast imaging while acquiring CT data sampled with down to 300 nm voxel-size the user can pick one out of three scintillator screens meeting his requirements. Choosing one of the three magnifications available the fieldof- view can be varied from 0.61 mm to 3.0 mm (up to 5.4 mm using field-of-view extension). Scan quality is comparable to state-of-the-art synchrotron imaging beamlines which employ similar technology as Click-CT.

Click-CT draws its resolving power from an indirect microscope detector which has three lenses: 20 x, 10 x and 4 x (see table for the corresponding pixel sampling and field-of-view FoV). The detector features a cooled sCMOS camera with outstanding low noise and high quantum efficiency. Lenses and scintillators can be changed and optimized for any application

• Lens focusing and pre-scan geometry calibration are fully automated
• Signal-to-noise ratio is maximized by automatically adjusting the source-object distance
• Intuitive parameterization of Paganin-type phase retrieval and and Wiener-deconvolution (both are applied during automated volume reconstruction)

• Short- and long-fiber composites
• Microstructure of metallic alloys
• Granular materials and micro foams
• Detection of microscopic defects (cracks and voids)
• Determination of tree species from wood samples (dendrology)
• Detection of ash loading in filters
• Cathode and anode materials of Li-ion batteries
• Paper and paper-coatings
• Biomaterials

X-ray source

• 40 kV – 150 kV peak voltage
• 4 W – 75 W power

Dimensions

• L x W x H (in mm) = 900 x 630 x 600

Customized X-ray detector

• 4 x, 10 x and 20 x motorized lenses
• 1 μm – 300 μm scintillator screens (typical thicknesses 3 μm, 10 μm and 50 μm)
• 2048 x 2048 sCMOS camera*

*water-cooling is recommended

Software

• Step-wise or continuous rotation
• Automated geometry & detector calibration
• Focal spot and intensity drift correction in situ
• Multi-material phase retrieval
• Field-of-View CT extension (half-scan)