Carbon nanotube reinforced porous magnesium composite: 3D nondestructive microstructure characterization using x-ray micro-computed tomography

•3D microstructure of porous magnesium composite reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes was studied using x-ray micro-computed tomography technique.•The overall porosity of the sample is ~48.5%.•The pore size is in the range of 1.5 –145 μm and its occurrence density increases with the decrease of pore size.•The introduction of pores significantly increases the specific surface area.•The porous structural features make the material suitable for hydrogen storage and biomedical applications.

A nondestructive x-ray micro-computed tomography technique was utilized to investigate 3D microstructure of porous magnesium composite reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The overall porosity of the sample is ~48.5%. The pores distribute uniformly. The pore size is in the range of 1.5–145 μm and its occurrence density increases with the decrease of pore size. The introduction of pores significantly increases the specific surface area. These microstructure features make the material suitable for hydrogen storage and biomedical applications.