Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance for Materials Evaluation
Naval Research Laboratory, DC, Chemistry
There are two aspects to this project: (1) the nondestructive evaluation of the microstructures of polymeric and ceramic components and (2) the detection of impurities and other undesirable additives in objects ranging in size from small electronic components to large shipping containers. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging has proven to be very successful in examining biological specimens. We are particularly interested in extending this technique to include nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) imaging and in applying imaging to novel systems. A custom system for planar imaging has been constructed. Commercial imaging accessories associated with an 11.7 T system and three NQR spectrometers are also available. In addition, research is in progress to develop new methods with improved sensitivity, which exploits the chemical selectivity of NQR in the detection of specific materials, such as explosives.