The High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (HFMRI) Facility at Penn State hosts two advanced preclinical MRI systems and two micro-CT systems for multimodal imaging. MRI, a non-invasive technique traditionally used in medicine, is now gaining traction in materials research thanks to innovations in hardware and imaging strategies. Applications span a wide range: from characterizing medical implants (scaffolds, stents, bioglass) and visualizing hydrogels, to monitoring drying in seeds or concrete, measuring flow and pH, and tracking diffusion of water, lithium, or sodium. Combined with micro-CT, MRI delivers complementary insights for comprehensive material characterization.
Thomas Neuberger | Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences