Porosity

Porosity is a material characteristic that expresses the ratio between the volume of free spaces (pores) in the material and the total volume of this material. In other words, porosity is the extent to which a material is composed of void spaces that can be filled with gas, liquid, or solid matter.

Porosity can be measured as a percentage and represents the volume ratio of the pores to the total volume of the material. Materials with high porosity have a larger volume of voids and can be less dense and have less mass. Conversely, materials with low porosity have fewer pores and are denser and more substantial.

Porosity can be present in various materials such as rocks, soil, ceramics, polymers, metals and others. Different types of materials can have different types of porosity, such as micropores (micrometers in size), mesopores (nanometers in size), and macropores (micrometers to millimeters in size).

Porosity has an important influence on the properties of materials:

Effect on mechanical properties: Materials with high porosity may have lower strength and stiffness because the pores weaken their structure.
Effect on thermal and acoustic properties: Porous materials may have lower thermal conductivity and acoustic absorption capacity.
Effect on absorption properties: Porous materials can have the ability to absorb liquids and gases, which is important in various applications.
Porosity is therefore an important factor in the design and production of materials and affects their ability to fulfill specific functions and use in several industries.