CEN ISO/TS 27687:2008

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2008
Nanotehnologija - Terminologija in definicije za nanoobjekte - Nanodelci,
nanovlakna in nanosnopi (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
Nanotechnologies - Terminology and definitions for nano-objects - Nanoparticle,
nanofibre and nanoplat (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
Nanotechnologien - Terminologie und Begriffe für Nanopartikel (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
Nanotechnologies - Terminologie et définitions relatives aux nano-objets - Nanoparticule,
nanofibre et nanoplat (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN ISO/TS 27687:2008
ICS:
01.040.07 Matematika. Naravoslovne Mathematics. Natural
vede (Slovarji) sciences (Vocabularies)
07.030 Fizika. Kemija Physics. Chemistry
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN ISO/TS 27687
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
August 2008
ICS 07.030; 01.040.07
English Version
Nanotechnologies - Terminology and definitions for nano-objects
- Nanoparticle, nanofibre and nanoplat (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
Nanotechnologies - Terminologie et définitions relatives aux Nanotechnologien - Terminologie und Begriffe für
nano-objets - Nanoparticule, nanofibre et nanoplat (ISO/TS Nanopartikel (ISO/TS 27687:2008)
27687:2008)
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 29 March 2008 for provisional application.
The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.
CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
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© 2008 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN ISO/TS 27687:2008: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword.3

Foreword
This document (CEN ISO/TS 27687:2008) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 229
"Nanotechnologies" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 352 “Nanotechnologies” the
secretariat of which is held by BSI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/TS 27687:2008 has been approved by CEN as a CEN ISO/TS 27687:2008 without any
modification.
TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 27687
First edition
2008-08-15
Nanotechnologies — Terminology and
definitions for nano-objects —
Nanoparticle, nanofibre and nanoplate
Nanotechnologies — Terminologie et définitions relatives
aux nano-objets — Nanoparticule, nanofibre et nanoplat

Reference number
ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
©
ISO 2008
ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
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ii © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of document:
⎯ an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members
of the parent committee casting a vote;
⎯ an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting
a vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TS 27687 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies.
ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
Introduction
As many authorities predict that applications of nanotechnologies will pervade all areas of life and will enable
dramatic advances to be realized in all areas of communication, health, manufacturing, materials and
knowledge-based technologies, there is an obvious need to provide industry and research with suitable tools
to aid the development and application of those technologies. It is also essential that regulators and health
and environmental protection agencies have available reliable measurement systems and evaluation
protocols supported by well-founded and robust standards.
Often in the field of nanotechnologies, researchers with the aid of microscopes name materials inspired by the
shape of objects found in everyday life although the physical size is much smaller. The prefix, nano-, is often
−9
added to denote the small size of the object. (The prefix nano-, is also used in S.I. units to indicate 10 e.g.
−9
1 nanometre = 10 metre.)
To create a unitary standard, this terminology and definitions document encompasses terms used in both
nanosciences and nanotechnologies concerning particles at the nano-scale. Nano-object and other new terms
are coined to allow development of a rational hierarchical system of definitions. This hierarchy will allow
systematic building of vocabulary and is contained in a larger hierarchy of terms under development for
nanotechnologies. This document provides an up-to-date listing of terms and definitions relevant to the area. It
forms one part of a projected multi-part terminology and definitions document covering the different aspects of
nanotechnologies. It is intended to facilitate communications between organizations and individuals in industry
and those who interact with them.
This document is concerned with the definition of terminology and definitions for these small objects. These
objects come in several shapes; the three basic shapes referred to in this document are illustrated in Figure 1:

a)  nanoparticle b)  nanorod c)  nanoplate
Figure 1 — Schematic diagrams showing some shapes for nano-objects
There is a hierarchical relationship between many of the different terms in the document. Some elements of
this are shown in Figure 2 to illustrate some of the relationships that exist.
iv © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
Figure 2 — Fragment of hierarchy of terms related to nano-objects
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)

Nanotechnologies — Terminology and definitions
for nano-objects — Nanoparticle, nanofibre and
nanoplate
1 Scope
This Technical Specification lists terms and definitions related to particles in the field of nanotechnologies. It is
intended to facilitate communications between organizations and individuals in industry and those who interact
with them.
2 Core terms related to particles
2.1
nanoscale
size range from approximately 1 nm to 100 nm
NOTE 1 Properties that are not extrapolations from a larger size will typically, but not exclusively, be exhibited in this
size range. For such properties the size limits are considered approximate.
NOTE 2 The lower limit in this definition (approximately 1 nm) is introduced to avoid single and small groups of atoms
from being designated as nano-objects or elements of nanostructures, which might be implied by the absence of a lower
limit.
2.2
nano-object
material with one, two or three external dimensions in the nanoscale
NOTE Generic term for all discrete nanoscale objects.
3 Terms concerning particles and assemblies of particles
Nano-objects (for example nanoparticles, nanofibres, and nanoplates see Clause 4), often occur in (large)
groups, rather than isolated. For reasons of surface energy, such coexisting nano-objects are likely to interact.
In the description of these interactions, the following terms are often used. The following terms are not
restricted with respect to physical size and shape. These terms are included for completeness and their
importance at the nanoscale.
3.1
particle
minute piece of matter with defined physical boundaries
[ISO 14644-6:2007, definition 2.102]
NOTE 1 A physical boundary can also be described as an interface.
NOTE 2 A particle can move as a unit.
NOTE 3 This general particle definition applies to nano-objects.
ISO/TS 27687:2008(E)
3.2
agglomerate
collection of weakly bound particles or aggregates or mixtures of the two where the resulting external
surface area is similar to the sum of the surface areas of the individual components
NOTE 1 The forces holding an agglomerate together are weak forces, for example van der Waals forces, or simple
physical entanglement.
NOTE 2 Agglomerates are also termed secondary particles and the original source particles are termed primary
particles.
3.3
aggregate
particle comprising strongly bonded or fused particles where the resulting external surface area may be
significantly smaller than the sum of calculated surface areas of the individual components
NOTE 1 The forces holding an aggregate together are strong forces, for example covalent bonds, or those resulting
from sintering or complex physical entanglement.
NOTE 2 Aggregates are also termed secondary particles and the original source particles are termed primary
particles.
4 Terms specific to nano-objects
4.1
nanoparticle
nano-object with all three external dimensions in the nanoscale
NOTE If t
...