porosity
Measure of holes
Porosity measures how much empty space exists within a material—the ratio of void volume to total volume.
Highly porous materials like sponges, pumice, and certain rocks contain numerous tiny holes or channels that can absorb liquids or allow gases to pass through.
In geology and engineering, porosity determines how much water or oil a rock formation can hold.
The concept extends to skin care, where hair porosity affects how well strands absorb moisture and products.
Ability to transmit fluids
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- saturationState of complete permeation
capillarity · wicking · soakage · uptake · retention · diffusion · penetration · sorption
Large water storage basin
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
karst · fractures · voids · interstices · bedrock · subsurface · matrix · sandstone
Solid building mixture
- ceramicsHardened clay objects
- cementCalcium powder binding agent
- aggregateCombined sum total
- foamBubble-filled substance
asphalt · composites · polymers · metallurgy · microstructure · sintering · compaction · density
Soft and absorbent
- pittedSeed removed, or opposed
- honeycombedPerforated with cavities
- cellularComposed of small units
- vesicularHaving small sacs
trabecular · reticulated · cavernous · holey · foamy · friable · lacy · pockmarked
Movement of atmosphere
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- moisture-wickingDraws liquid from skin
- permeableAllowing substances through
- breathablePermits air passage
fabrics · textiles · Gore-Tex · mesh · woven · sportswear · comfort · transpiration
Thin tissue sheet
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- desalinationExtracting salt from seawater
water treatment · particulates · contaminants · effluent · wastewater · clarification · carbon filter · separation
Quality of being winding
- interconnectivityState of mutual linking
- imagingProducing visual representations
permeability
Ability to transmit fluids
- percolationLiquid passing through pores
- seepageSlow fluid escape
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
saturation · capillarity · wicking · soakage · uptake · retention · diffusion · penetration · sorption · adsorption
reservoir
Large water storage basin
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
stratigraphy · karst · fractures · voids · interstices · bedrock · subsurface · matrix · sandstone · limestone
concrete
Solid building mixture
foam · asphalt · composites · polymers · metallurgy · microstructure · sintering · compaction · density · voids
spongy
Soft and absorbent
- pittedSeed removed, or opposed
- honeycombedPerforated with cavities
- cellularComposed of small units
vesicular · trabecular · reticulated · cavernous · holey · foamy · friable · lacy · pockmarked · cratered
airflow
Movement of atmosphere
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- moisture-wickingDraws liquid from skin
- permeableAllowing substances through
breathable · fabrics · textiles · Gore-Tex · mesh · woven · sportswear · comfort · transpiration · cooling
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
desalination · water treatment · particulates · contaminants · effluent · wastewater · clarification · carbon filter · separation · selectivity
tortuosity
Quality of being winding
- interconnectivityState of mutual linking
- imagingProducing visual representations
- soil sciencesoil, topsoil, subsoil, clay, sand
- diagenesiscementation, compaction, recrystallization, cement, concretion
- geotechnicssoil, soil type, soil classification, soil structure, subsurface
- groundwateraquifer, aquifers, water table, recharge, confined aquifer
- soil hydrologypercolation, seepage, permeability, soil moisture, moisture content
- textile propertiesthread count, denier, fineness, tenacity, tensile strength
porosityimpermeability
Resistance to passage
watertightness · airtightness · barrier properties · hermetic sealing · impenetrability
porositysolidity
Firmness of structure
solidness · density · compactness · denseness · continuity