permeability

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'permeability' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the measure of a material's ability to allow a fluid to pass through it. For example, "The soil's permeability affects how much water it can retain".

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Permeable sediments thus grade into impermeable sediments, forming a permeability barrier that eventually could trap migrating petroleum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In some cases, oil may migrate through such permeable carrier beds until it is trapped by a permeability barrier and forms an oil accumulation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"But the more we look at it, this permeability thing is kind of inescapable".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The trick, says Stéphane Sarrade, head of the CEA's arm of the collaboration, is to get the TCA out, but to leave in desirable compounds, such as those that lend cork its elasticity and permeability.

The Economist

Bed-design characteristics, such as body conformity, body-heat transfer and vapour permeability are bound to influence the quality of sleep.

The Economist

A research report from 1979 puts it thus: "There are three major design features which can be used either individually or in combination to manipulate delivery levels; filtration, paper permeability, and filter-tip ventilation".

The Economist

In other words, the material had negative permeability, one of the two determinants of a negative refractive index.Further work is necessary to create a material that negatively refracts visible light.

The Economist

To produce this gas, high flow rates of the hot geopressured fluids must be maintained from formations of high porosity and permeability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bitumen distribution in a deposit also varies, depending on the permeability and porosity of the reservoir rock.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Clay and humus affect both soil porosity and permeability by binding soil grains together into aggregates, thereby creating a network of larger pores (macropores) that facilitate the movement of water.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The chemicals released cause a sudden increase in permeability of the local blood vessels, the adhesion and activation of platelets (blood cell fragments that trigger clotting), which release their own active agents, the contraction of smooth muscle in the gut or in the respiratory tubes, and the secretion of fluids all of which tend to dislodge large multicellular parasites such as hookworms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "permeability" in scientific writing, always specify the fluid or substance being transmitted, such as water permeability or gas permeability, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "permeability" and porosity interchangeably. Porosity refers to the volume of void space within a material, while "permeability" describes the ability of that material to transmit fluids.

Linguistic Context

The word "permeability" primarily functions as a noun, often used to denote a measurable property of a material. It refers to the degree to which a substance allows liquids or gases to pass through it. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "permeability" is a noun that refers to the ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through it. Ludwig AI identifies its usage as grammatically correct and highly prevalent, especially in scientific and technical contexts. The most common contexts are in encyclopedias, science and news reports. When writing about "permeability", it's crucial to specify the fluid or substance in question and avoid confusing it with porosity. Understanding its function and usage can significantly improve clarity and precision in scientific and technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

penetrability

Emphasizes the capacity of something to be penetrated or entered.

perviousness

Indicates the state of allowing passage or entrance.

porosity

Focuses on the presence of pores or voids within a material, affecting its ability to be permeated.

diffusivity

Refers to the rate at which a substance spreads or disperses through a medium.

leachability

Highlights the potential for substances to be dissolved and carried away by a liquid.

transmissivity

Specifically refers to the capacity of a material to transmit fluids, like water.

infiltrability

Describes the ability of a fluid to enter or pass into a substance.

magnetic susceptibility

Deals with how easily a material becomes magnetized in an external magnetic field, related to magnetic permeability.

absorptivity

Highlights how much a certain material absorbs water.

conductivity

Focuses on the material's ability to conduct electrical current or heat.

FAQs

How is "permeability" measured?

Permeability is commonly measured using Darcy's law, which relates the flow rate of a fluid through a porous medium to the pressure gradient and the fluid's viscosity. The standard unit of permeability is the darcy.

What factors affect soil "permeability"?

Soil permeability is affected by factors such as soil texture, structure, organic matter content, and the presence of macropores. Clay content can both increase and decrease permeability depending on its arrangement.

In what contexts is "permeability" important?

"Permeability" is a crucial factor in various fields, including petroleum engineering (oil reservoir permeability), hydrogeology (aquifer permeability), material science (membrane permeability), and soil science (water infiltration). Also, "transmissivity" is important in similar contexts.

How does "permeability" relate to porosity?

Porosity is the volume percentage of void space in a rock, whereas "permeability" is the rate of flow of water at a given pressure gradient through a unit volume. High porosity does not necessarily mean high permeability; the pores must be interconnected.