Future analysis

摘要

Where do you see an increased role for materials and minerals analysis in the next few years? EM: It will develop in tandem with a shift towards new manufacturing technologies and processes, lightweighting of components and structures, new joining technologies, and the development of new materials for extreme environments among others. For example, in regard to manufacturing technologies, a shift towards net-shape production of part via additive manufacturing means that greater emphasis will be placed on characterising the incoming powder feedstock, the components immediately after manufacture and subsequent post-processing, to finished components. There are several additive manufacturing processes, such as powderbed fusion, binder jetting, direct energy deposition, material jetting, among others, and different feedstock material types, including polymeric-, metallic-and ceramic-based, all of which present challenges from a characterisation standpoint.