SINE2020 · Project

Neutron Testing Services That Help Industry Analyze New Materials Faster

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sine2020.eu

Imagine you need to look inside a new material — not just at the surface, but deep inside its structure — to figure out why it cracks, corrodes, or doesn't perform. Neutrons are like super-powered X-rays that can do exactly that, but the machines that produce them are massive and only exist at a handful of facilities across Europe. This project upgraded those facilities with better detectors, software, and sample preparation so that companies — not just university researchers — can actually use them. It also prepared the ground for a major new European neutron source (ESS) that will be the most powerful in the world.

By the numbers

~10,000

neutron facility users in Europe

~2B€

European investment in ESS construction

EUR 10,863,447

EU contribution to SINE2020

consortium partners

countries in consortium

106

total project deliverables

world-class neutron facilities in Europe

The business problem

What needed solving

Many companies developing advanced materials — for aerospace, energy, pharma, or automotive — need to understand what happens inside those materials under stress, at high pressure, or during chemical reactions. Standard lab tools like X-rays only scratch the surface. Neutron beams can see deep inside materials but the facilities are complex, expensive, and designed for academic researchers, not industrial users.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 106 outputs including prototype neutron detector hardware (MSGC detector, WLS fibre detector, direct PMT readout), concept designs for specialized sample environments (700 bar hydrogen container, clamp cells, fast-cooling furnace, in-situ NMR setup), improved analysis software, e-learning resources, and an industry consultancy service to help companies access neutron facilities directly.

Audience

Who needs this

Aerospace manufacturers testing structural integrity of turbine blades, fuselage composites, or weldsPharmaceutical companies studying protein structures, lipid membranes, or drug delivery mechanismsHydrogen and fuel cell developers needing to understand hydrogen behavior in storage materialsAutomotive companies developing lighter, stronger alloy componentsNuclear energy firms validating reactor component materials under stress

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Companies developing high-performance alloys, composites, or coatings

If you are an aerospace manufacturer dealing with unexpected material fatigue or stress failures — this project developed improved neutron detector hardware and instrumentation that can map internal stresses in metal components non-destructively. With 18 partner institutions across 12 countries, you gain access to a network of facilities that can test your materials at depths X-rays cannot reach.

Pharmaceuticals & Biochemistry

enterprise

Target: Drug development firms working on protein crystallography or lipid-based delivery systems

If you are a pharma company struggling to understand drug-protein interactions at the molecular level — this project built new crystal growth capabilities and chemical deuteration services that make biological molecules visible to neutron beams. The project covers enzymes, lipids, and organic acids, all critical to drug formulation research.

Energy Storage & Hydrogen Technology

mid-size

Target: Companies developing hydrogen storage or fuel cell components

If you are an energy company working on hydrogen storage solutions — this project produced a concept design for a 700 bar hydrogen container specifically for neutron experiments. This means you can now study how hydrogen behaves inside your storage materials under realistic pressures, helping you spot weaknesses before they become safety failures.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost my company to use these neutron testing services?

The project developed a business model specifically for direct industry use of neutron facilities. Access to large-scale neutron facilities typically operates on a beam-time model. Based on available project data, the project aimed to make these services more accessible but specific pricing depends on the facility and experiment type.

Can these techniques work at industrial scale and speed?

Neutron testing requires large-scale facilities — there are about 10 world-class national facilities in Europe plus the Institute Laue Langevin. The project improved common software and analysis tools to speed up data processing. However, samples must be brought to the facility, so this is best suited for R&D and quality validation rather than production-line testing.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

The project was a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) funded with EUR 10,863,447 from the EU. Results from RIA projects typically follow EU open-access rules, meaning published findings are publicly available. Specific detector designs and software tools may have their own licensing terms through the 18 consortium partners.

Is the technology ready to use today?

The project closed in September 2019 and delivered 106 outputs including detector hardware prototypes and concept designs for specialized equipment. The European Spallation Source (ESS) that this project was preparing for is now operational. Many of the services developed are available through the partner facilities.

How does this integrate with our existing R&D workflow?

The project specifically built e-learning tools and industry consultancy services to help non-expert companies access neutron facilities. Common analysis software was developed so results are standardized across facilities. This means your team does not need neutron expertise in-house.

Which regulations or standards does this support?

Neutron testing is used for non-destructive evaluation of critical components in aerospace, nuclear, and automotive industries. Based on available project data, the techniques support compliance with materials certification standards, though specific regulatory applications depend on your industry.

Consortium

Who built it

The SINE2020 consortium is a purely research-driven group: 12 research organizations and 5 universities across 12 European countries, with zero industry partners and zero SMEs. This is typical for large-scale research infrastructure projects. The coordinator, Institut Laue-Langevin in France, is one of the world's leading neutron facilities. While the absence of industry partners means the technology has not been commercially validated within the project, the 18-partner network represents essentially the entire European neutron infrastructure ecosystem. For a business looking to access neutron testing, this consortium IS the access point — these are the people who run the facilities.

INSTITUT MAX VON LAUE - PAUL LANGEVINCoordinator · FR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMAparticipant · IT
FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBHparticipant · DE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
LABORATORIO DE INSTRUMENTACAO E FISICA EXPERIMENTAL DE PARTICULAS LIPparticipant · PT
HUN-REN ENERGIATUDOMANYI KUTATOKOZPONTparticipant · HU
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM HEREON GMBHparticipant · DE
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONparticipant · UK
USTAV JADERNE FYZIKY AV CRparticipant · CZ
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM BERLIN FUR MATERIALIEN UND ENERGIE GMBHparticipant · DE
DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTparticipant · CH
EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE ERICparticipant · SE
CONSORCIO PARA LA CONSTRUCCION, EQUIPAMIENTO Y EXPLOTACION DE LA SEDE ESPANOLA DE LA FUENTE EUROPEA DE NEUTRONES POR ESPALACIONparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFTparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

Institut Max von Laue - Paul Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France — one of Europe's top neutron research centers

Order a report on this consortium See INSTITUT MAX VON LAUE - PAUL LANGEVIN profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find out if neutron analysis could solve your materials testing challenge? SciTransfer can connect you with the right facility and research team from this 18-partner European network.

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