Tracking the infiltration of molten salt into graphite using time-lapse X-ray micro-computed tomography

For the first time, X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography (mu-CT) has been used to track the infiltration of molten salt into a porous graphite sample. Quantitative analysis on the X-ray mu-CT virtual slices enabled the extent of the salt infiltration and its spatial distribution within the graphite to be determined. The evolution of the pore structure is elucidated by direct comparison of the XCT micrographs before and after salt infiltration.