TUBAF is a member of the European network EXCITE. The basic idea of the network is the easy access to and sharing of measurement infrastructure and research data. The network provides 19 research facilities in 12 countries. This infrastructure gives interested parties access to numerous high-resolution X-ray and electron microscopes, which they can use for their research after submitting an application.
EXCITE stands for Enhanced X(cross)-disciplinary Ccommunity-driven Imaging Technologies for Earth and Environmental material research. "It is therefore particularly about samples from the geosciences, environmental sciences and materials science - and about networking those who want to use imaging methods to gain new insights into structural properties, especially at particle level," says Professor Urs Peuker, EXCITE project manager at TU Bergakademie Freiberg and Head of the Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mineral Processing (MVTAT). "A doctoral student from Australia, which is currently a partner location outside the EU, can, for example, clarify their research question on the X-ray tomograph in Freiberg, while a student from Freiberg can examine their sample on a specialised electron microscope in the UK. The infrastructure is open to interested parties from all career levels."
Different materials, common methods
The joint research infrastructure is utilised by various disciplines. "It never ceases to amaze me what different materials and issues can be investigated using imaging methods on a wide range of length scales," says Dr Ralf Ditscherlein, scientific coordinator of the network at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. "Just recently, a doctoral student from Brazil worked with our experts to analyse the stability of glass-ceramic foams directly under mechanical load (in-situ), which can be used as insulation material in construction due to their good thermal and acoustic insulating properties. Another measurement by a team from England was carried out with minerals that could be used to chemically bind and permanently store CO2 from industrial waste gases."
In an interview with Dr Ralf Ditscherlein, Dr Graham Andrews (University of Hull, UK) and Dr Sarah Brown (Craig Nua Geoscience, Ireland) talk about their research stay in Freiberg. In 2024/25, they analysed basalt at TUBAF for its potential for CO2 capture.
Mateus Gruener Lima (Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil) used X-ray tomography last year to investigate how the pore structure of glass-ceramic foams changes under stress.
The TUBAF X-ray tomograph registered in the EXCITE network is located in the laboratory of the MVTAT Institute in the Centre for Efficient High-Temperature Material Conversion. Samples can be scanned there in various states using X-rays and visualised as a high-resolution 3D model. "However, the actual gain in knowledge only comes from the subsequent quantitative analysis of the image data, which makes up a large part of the scientific work. Insight into the particle structure at millimetre or micrometre level is crucial for us - above all because we can derive quantitative data from that can be used to understand and specifically influence material properties," says Ditscherlein.
Simple application, real teamwork
A scientific question, a simple application: interested parties can apply for research time on the measuring devices in various network calls. "Access to the cutting-edge infrastructure is low-threshold - the only obligation in terms of the open access concept is to make the research data and a report available to the network. For outstanding results, joint scientific publications with the participating partners are also being sought," says Peuker. In this way, the partners ensure the subsequent utilisation of the generated image data on the scientific issues in an open database, for example the SaxFDM research data management system in Saxony. "In this way, the data remains accessible in the long term and can continue to be used by the scientific community. Such data sets are particularly valuable in the context of data-driven methods and artificial intelligence, as they can also be used for future analyses and new research questions. "
At the EXCITE network meeting from 17 to 19 March 2026, the project participants and users will come together at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
