ISO has published a new technical report, ISO/TR 11360:2010, Nanotechnologies – Methodology for the Classification and Categorization of Nanomaterials. The report offers a comprehensive, globally harmonized methodology for classifying nanomaterials.

GENEVA, Switzerland - ISO has published a new technical report, ISO/TR 11360:2010, Nanotechnologies – Methodology for the Classification and Categorization of Nanomaterials. The report offers a comprehensive, globally harmonized methodology for classifying nanomaterials; it will be useful to a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines engaged in research, industry and government.

Nanotechnology deals with structures between one to 100 nanometers. Applications are wide and range from computer memory storage to sunscreens. Nanomaterials currently in existence exhibit various physical, chemical, mechanical, optical, magnetic and biological properties, as well as different internal and external structures.

Because scientists and researches in the field have very diverse backgrounds, and are working on different applications, there are now many divergent understandings and assumptions associated with emerging scientific concepts in this area. This is causing poor communication, lack of interoperability among systems and duplication of efforts.

ISO/TR 11360 introduces a system called the “nano-tree,” which places nanotechnology concepts into a logical context by indicating relationships among them as a branching-out tree. The most basic and common elements are defined as the main trunk of the tree, and nanomaterials are then differentiated in terms of structure, chemical nature and other properties.

“The document provides users with a structured view of nanotechnology and facilitates a common understanding of its concepts,” said Peter Hatto, Chair of the ISO/TC 229 Committee that developed the standard.

ISO/TR 11360:2010, Nanotechnologies – Methodology for the Classification and Categorization of Nanomaterials, was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 229, Nanotechologies. It is available from ISO national institutes and may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat.