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have helped build modern life—from bridges and vehicles to medical devices and clean-energy systems. As new manufacturing methods and new alloy designs emerge, researchers are finding ways to make metal parts stronger, safer, and longer-lasting. A team led by Prof. Yu Zou at the University of Toronto is working to improve the performance of advanced metals and recently carried out key experiments at CLS on the VESPERS beamline (led by PhD student Tianyi Lyu) and the BXDS-WHE beamline (led by Dr. Hao Chen and PhD student Nuo Qu).

On VESPERS, the team used powerful X-rays to study steel parts made by metal 3D printing. Their goal was to map the hidden internal stresses that can form during manufacturing. These stresses can reduce part quality and sometimes lead to cracking or early failure. By learning where the stresses are and how they develop, the team hopes to reduce manufacturing problems—and eventually even use controlled stress patterns to improve strength and durability under repeated use.

On BXDS-WHE, the researchers studied rolled alloys by stretching samples while high-energy X-rays passed through them. This “test-while-we-watch” approach lets the team see how the metal’s internal structure changes as it is pulled, which is essential for used in demanding structural applications. By comparing different alloy compositions and processing conditions, the team aims to design titanium alloys with an improved balance of strength and ductility.

This research is supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The team also thanks Dr. Renfei Feng, Dr. Graham King, and Dr. Al Rahemtulla for their ongoing technical support at the CLS.

We were honoured to welcome His Excellency Darm Boontham, Ambassador of to Canada, to the CLS. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how synchrotron science is driving innovation in agriculture, health research, and many other fields while strengthening international connections and collaboration. We look forward to continuing to build ties between Canada and Thailand through science and .



University of Saskatchewan Government of Saskatchewan สถาบันวิจัยแสงซินโครตรอน(องค์การมหาชน) SLRI