Due to the growing demand for non-destructive testing methods, early detection of microscopic/nanoscale defects, prediction of fatigue damage or other failures, the HZDR offers Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS). This talk will provide insight into experiments performed and examples where PALS has been used to study material failures. The extremely high sensitivity of positrons to free volume changes and the combination with cyclic load, temperature or pressure variations leads to new findings on fatigue damage or defect kinetics when they initially occur. This leads to optimized alloys, plastics, or furthermore sustainable and resistant materials.

PALS makes it possible to precisely determine atomic defects in solids without destroying the material or requiring complex preparation. The material groups investigated with PALS range from metals and semiconductors to plastics and micro- and mesoporous materials. Defects such as lattice defects in semiconductors or metals, free volume in polymers, or open or closed pores in nanostructured materials can be studied to determine open volume effects and defects.