Material Identification via Hydrogen to Electron Ratio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional materials identification techniques, such as X-ray and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), require knowledge of the sample volume to accurately determine composition, which is challenging for complex or irregular objects, especially when using density measurements and volume-dependent parameters like T1 and T2 relaxation times or relative nuclear susceptibility.
Innovation Solution
A method combining X-ray radiation to measure the total number of electrons and NMR to measure the total number of hydrogen atoms, calculating a Hydrogen to Electron Ratio (HER) without requiring volume measurement, allowing for material content inference through co-processing these data items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional X-ray or NMR techniques are used to identify materials, then composition information can be obtained, but volume measurement is required which is challenging for complex or irregular objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines X-ray attenuation measurements with NMR susceptibility measurements into a unified analysis framework. By merging these two independent measurement techniques and analyzing them together through a dual-parameter model, the system eliminates the need for separate volume measurement while improving material identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from measuring volume directly to measuring two different physical parameters (X-ray attenuation and NMR susceptibility) that can be combined to infer composition. This parameter transformation allows the system to bypass the volume measurement difficulty while still achieving accurate material identification.
2Measurement precision
If density measurements are used for material identification, then composition can be determined, but accurate volume measurement is required which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges X-ray and NMR measurement systems into an integrated apparatus that simultaneously or sequentially measures both attenuation and susceptibility. This combination eliminates the need for separate volume measurement devices while maintaining accurate composition determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computational model as an intermediary that processes the raw X-ray and NMR measurements to directly calculate composition parameters. This mathematical intermediary transforms the relationship between measurements and composition, eliminating the need for direct volume measurement hardware.
3Measurement precision
If relative nuclear susceptibility is used as a material characteristic, then NMR can identify materials, but it must be converted to susceptibility per unit volume requiring volume knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines NMR susceptibility measurements with X-ray attenuation measurements in a unified analysis framework. By merging these two measurements and using a dual-parameter model, the system can determine composition directly without converting susceptibility to a per-volume basis, thus preserving the total susceptibility information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the analysis parameter from susceptibility per unit volume to total susceptibility combined with total electron count. This parameter transformation allows the system to use the raw NMR susceptibility data directly without volume-dependent conversion, while still achieving accurate material identification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate material identification without needing to know the volume of the object, overcoming limitations of existing techniques by integrating electron and hydrogen content measurements across the entire sample volume.
Implementation Method 1
When an X-ray passes through a medium, there are two main methods in which it can be attenuated: At low energy, the Photoelectric effect dominates, in which the photon's energy is transferred to an electron orbiting the atom. At higher energies, Compton Scattering takes place, where the photon is scattered off the electrons around the atoms.
Implementation Method 2
NMR makes measures of the T1 and T2 relaxation times, which can be used to identify to some success. The Relative Nuclear Susceptibilty is a measure of the total measure of susceptibility derived, for example, from all of the Hydrogen nuclei in the object under examination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of examination of an object comprising the steps of: applying a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technique to obtain a data item correlated to the relative nuclear susceptibility within the sample; obtaining a further data item correlated to another measure of the object under examination; determining therefrom a ratio.