The Beckman Institute
The Beckman Institute accelerates research programs with revolutionary ZEISS Xradia 630 Versa Micro-CT scanner
The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is aiding researchers in Illinois, and around the world, to advance a variety of research projects. The Institute can do this with the new ZEISS Xradia 630 Versa micro-CT scanner, the first of its kind for life science applications in the US.
Additionally, the Illinois Materials Research Laboratory, The Grainger College of Engineering and the Office for the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation all committed funds to support the purchase of the system.
While most micro-CT scanners use only X-rays, which are invisible to the human eye, the Beckman model uses the scintillation process to make them visible. The 630 Versa also allows users to scan small subsections of large materials, ensuring a maximum imaging resolution of 40 nanometres.
“With building materials, hairline cracks are the start of where things go catastrophically wrong, and the micro-CT scanner at the Beckman Institute can see those cracks,” said T. Josek, Microscopist at Beckman. “We're providing the opportunity for researchers at the University of Illinois and beyond to start here and start small — see how a material behaves and what it looks like, and then scale up.”
Samples can be stretched, bent, and compressed using the compression/tensile stage, allowing for expanded scrutineering. Additionally, diffraction-contrasted tomography is also possible, ensuring that the user can determine a material’s grain orientation by tracking how X-rays bend while passing through.
“We at ZEISS are thrilled to be partnering with the Beckman Institute Microscopy Suite to deliver this flexible and intuitive system for X-ray microscopy,” said Aubrey Funke, Carl Zeiss Microscopy Product Marketing Manager for Life Science EM/XRM. “The ability to image your sample, be it organic or material, becomes a less intimidating process on the ZEISS Xradia Versa 630. With high-powered resolution and expanded ease of use for all skill levels, the Versa 630 is ideal for diverse research capabilities across various applications, including life science, electronics, materials research, and many more. We look forward to working with the Beckman Institute Microscopy Suite to support many diverse research projects.”
Partnering with Zeiss Microscopy, the Beckman Microscopy Suite team is on the lookout for projects both on campus and beyond that may benefit from the Versa 630.