Nondestructive Structural Investigation of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Fiber Insulation Tile by Synchrotron X-ray In-Line Phase-Contrast Microtomography

Zirconia (ZrO2) aerogels show excellent insulating performance and have been widely applied as a thermal protector in furnaces, nuclear reactors, and spacecraft. The nondestructive determination of their interior microstructure is significant for evaluating their mechanical and insulating performance. In this study, we performed nondestructive structural investigation of an yttria-stabilized ZrO2 fiber insulation tile using synchrotron X-ray in-line phase-contrast microtomography at a pixel resolution of 6.5 µm. Taking advantage of the edge enhancement of phase-contrast imaging, single yttria-stabilized ZrO2 fibers were clearly distinguished; furthermore, interior aggregates were nondestructively observed at this spatial resolution. This work demonstrates the advantages and potential of synchrotron X-ray microtomography for the structural analysis of porous ceramic materials. By combining higher-brilliance synchrotron radiation sources and CCD detectors with higher spatial and temporal resolutions, we anticipate that we can further understand the relationship between aerogel microstructure and function, especially under in-service conditions at high temperatures.