The use of X-ray computed tomography as a tool in assisting cast material testing

Casting manufacture depends on many factors. Technical specifications determine the required quality, which is essential for casting acceptance or rejection. Practice shows that making castings without defects is simply not possible. However, the aim is to minimize rejects owing to the use of diverse instruments for measurements and control. A tool which may be helpful in checking the internal structure of products is the X-ray computed tomography (CT). CT is a modern diagnostic method that combines X-ray examinations with advanced computer technology. Tomographic studies allow non-destructive qualitative assessment of the test material combined with advanced analysis. One of the main advantages of the X-ray computed tomography is imaging of the examined structure in three dimensions and the ability to perform spatial reconstruction.
The aim of this article is to describe the principle operation of X-ray computed tomography and offer extensive discussion of its use in various fields of science, in particular to defect detection, quantitative metallographic tests, the process of reverse engineering (reconstruction) and metrological studies. Selected examples were used to show the potential offered by this technique.

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