Development of high pressure apparatus for X-ray microtomography at SPring-8

A new high-pressure apparatus has been developed for studies of synchrotron radiation-based X-ray microtomography at SPring-8 of Japan. The high pressure tomography apparatus at SPring-8 is a compact hydraulic press with a 0.8 MN capacity and is equipped with an opposed anvil device. It has two wide windows for X-ray access with a 160-degree opening in the equatorial plane to the compression axis. Radiographs are acquired over 180 degree rotation for reconstruction of 3D image, in which some shadows occur, because the press frame blocks a 20-degree angular region. 3D tomography image computed from radiographs obtained using the high pressure tomography apparatus has a reasonably good quality enough to measure physical properties of materials.