Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Materials

MRI is the pre-eminent diagnostic imaging method in clinical medicine and it is similarly useful for biomedical research. A small but mighty group of researchers employ MRI for studies of materials. While the basic technology for biomedical and materials studies is similar, the approach to imaging differs in many respects. As just one example, the non-invasive nature of MRI is critical for studies of living systems. But for in-animate materials systems non-invasive imaging is usually important because it permits examination of materials systems as they change or as they function.

In this lecture we will first consider fundamental differences between biomedical and materials imaging, most notably through typical MR signal lifetimes. We shall then consider MRI methods and imaging strategies that are appropriate for materials systems. In recent years new biomedical imaging methods have been developed for imaging rigid biomaterials. These considerations will emphasize the importance of a well-controlled and understood image contrast. We will consider choice of the most appropriate static magnetic field as well as prospects for hyperpolarized materials imaging studies. These ideas will be illustrated by representative studies in the literature.