Studying structure and determining permeability of materials based on X-Ray microtomography data (using porous ceramics as an example)

Modern noninvasive methods for probing the three-dimensional structure of materials, such as X-ray tomography, make it possible not only to obtain precise data on the structure of a sample but also to use them for assessing effective properties of the material by numerical methods. We have studied the pore structure of three samples of permeable porous ceramics by X-ray microtomography and numerically determined the permeability by solving the Stokes equation in the three-dimensional geometry of the pore structure. The data thus obtained are in excellent agreement with results of laboratory measurements. Morphological analysis of the pore structure (pore size distribution) allowed us to explain the results obtained for three samples of ceramics produced from granules of various sizes and shapes.