The key difference between nanomaterials and bulk materials is that the nanomaterials have their size in 1-100 nm range at least in one dimension whereas the bulk materials have their size above 100 nm in all dimensions.
Nanomaterials and bulk materials are the two major types of particles. They differ from each other according to their size. Moreover, they have different chemical and physical properties. Therefore, they have different applications as well.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Nanomaterials
3. What are Bulk Materials
4. Side by Side Comparison – Nanomaterials vs Bulk Materials in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What are Nanomaterials?
Nanomaterials are particles that have their size in 1-100 nm range at least in one dimension. There are different sources of these particles. For example, we can get these particles as engineered particles, as incidental components and via natural sources. There are several forms of nanomaterials;
- Nanomaterials – They have all their dimensions in 1-100 nm scale.
- One dimensional nanostructure – one dimension has its size outside the nanoscale.
- Two-dimensional nanostructures – two of the dimensions are not in nanoscale.
- Bulk nanostructures – none of the dimensions is in the nanoscale (all are above 100 nm).
Figure 01: Comparison between Nanomaterials and Bulk Materials
There are many applications of these materials in various manufacturing processes, healthcare applications, various products including paints, filters, lubricant additives, etc. For example, nanozymes are substances that are nanoparticles, and they have enzyme-like characteristics.
What are Bulk Materials?
Bulk materials are particles that have their size above 100 nm in all dimensions. Most of the times, we use this term in order to name a substance that is granular or lumpy and exists in free-flowing form. we use the grain size and grain distribution in characterizing these materials. Moreover, we can explain their properties using the bulk density, moisture content, temperature, etc. There are two forms of these materials as follows:
- Cohesionless, free-flowing bulk materials
- Cohesive bulk materials
Bulk materials include the material we use in the construction field; plaster, sand, gravel, cement, etc. Moreover, it includes raw materials that we use for various industries such as ore, slag, salts, etc. In addition to that, this includes powdery materials such as pigments, fillers, granules, pellets, etc.
What is the Difference Between Nanomaterials and Bulk Materials?
Nanomaterials are particles that have their size in 1-100 nm range at least in one dimension. We cannot see their particles through the naked eye. Moreover, examples of these materials include nanozymes, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, graphene, etc. Bulk materials are particles that have their size above 100 nm in all dimensions. We can see their particles through the naked eye. The examples of these materials include plaster, sand, gravel, cement, ore, slag, salts, etc. The below infographic presents the difference between nanomaterials and bulk materials in tabular form.
Summary – Nanomaterials vs Bulk Materials
Nanomaterials are invisible to the naked eye. But the bulk materials, we can see their particles. The difference between nanomaterials and bulk materials is that nanomaterials have their size in 1-100 nm range at least in one dimension whereas bulk materials have their size above 100 nm in all dimensions.
Reference:
1. “Nanomaterials.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 July 2018. Available here
2. “Bulk Material.” Rohrkettenförderer – Fördersysteme Für Schüttgut. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.”Comparison of nanomaterials sizes”By Sureshbup (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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