In this talk I will give an introduction to the use of time resolved in situ imaging of materials processing and mechanical behaviour in 2D using electron microscopy and 3D by computed tomography. Further by combining these modalities it is also possible to build up a multiscale picture of materials behaviour across short (<1s) and long (many months) timescales.

I will consider examples that span many of the materials behaviours covered at this conference. From the elevated temperature creep of magnesium alloys to fatigue damage in polymer composites. From the structure and degradation of batteries to additive manufacturing and hot isostatic pressing of novel alloys. In particular, I will examine how such approaches can help us better understand degradation processes from corrosion and stress corrosion cracking through to the complex fracture processes associated with hierarchical natural and engineered nanostructured materials. Further, I will examine how these techniques can help to create and validate the performance of multiscale image-based modelling approaches to enable the more intelligent design of materials of the future.