Analysis of contaminant distribution in filter cartridges using X-ray computerized tomography

The purpose of this paper is the application of an internal visualization m ethod for contaminant distribution analysis and quantification in filter ca rtridges, based on X-Ray Computerized Tomography (XCT). The cartridge filte rs were contaminated with glass beads and scanned in a medical device. The scanning process was carried out both with and without contaminant in the f ilter to compare the attenuation coefficient of the clean filter and the co ntaminated filter. Hundreds of images were collected and the mapping of the particles in each section of the filter were analyzed using the segmentati on technique, based on the difference between contaminant (glass beads) and filter (wound polypropylene fibers) attenuation coefficients. The move rel evant images were selected and quantitatively analyzed. The shape of the di stribution is also presented. Finally, the results show the potential of th e technique for the proposed analysis.