There are some deformations of materials which progressively changes the lattice asset, the size and shape of grains which characterise the micro-nano structure of surfaces; these deformations can be used to predict dramatic damage. The ideal characteristic of the technology should be able to observe these deformations in either the plastic or viscous regime; it should have the appropriate resolution to distinguish patterns collected from materials, either affected or unaffected by such deformations.

The scale of observation is the nanometer and X-ray diffraction offers the appropriate requirements to provide the above mentioned characteristics. Appropriate mathematical theories exist, enabling the separation of contributions given by the presence of macrostrains, microsize and microistrains, even if they can be difficult to observe when using traditional X-ray diffraction technology. Moreover, since several years, experiments and measurements have been conducted by collecting data from materials under non-ambient conditions. Instruments implemented to observe X-ray diffraction from components of industrial plants or factories are, in general, so inflexible that the above-mentioned requirements are unattainable.

The implementation of an instrument fulfilling these requirements started via the cooperation between the Italian ISPESL and the University of Pisa (research contracts 67/97 and 42/98) and was based on the progress obtained since the early nineties by the cooperation between University of Pisa and Consorzio Pisa Ricerche. Little by little, measurements and testing have been performed thus giving confidence that the instrument DifRob®US7,260,178 was running correctly for the intended purposes.

The present paper reports on the advances obtained in collecting data from very brittle, thin and precious components, the surface of blocks of precious materials and from heavy and thick blocks of steel of industrial components.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/15832 must be provided.