mikroskala

Mikroskala, or the micro-scale, is the size domain used in science and engineering to describe objects and phenomena that are typically measured in micrometers (µm) to submillimeters. The exact boundaries vary by field, but a common working range is from about 1 µm up to a few hundred micrometers, with some disciplines extending toward the millimeter scale for certain microfabricated structures.

Objects in the mikroskala exhibit properties that differ from both macroscopic and nanoscale behavior. The high surface-area-to-volume ratio makes surface forces, adhesion, capillarity, and friction more influential. Thermal fluctuations and Brownian motion can also become significant for small particles. Measurement and fabrication at this scale rely on specialized tools such as optical microscopy, confocal microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques. Common manufacturing approaches include photolithography, etching, microcontact printing, and self-assembly, as well as advances in microfluidics and additive manufacturing.

Applications of mikroskala science span electronics, optics, biology, materials science, and medicine. Microstructures enable sensors, actuators, and integrated circuits; microfluidic devices handle small-volume chemical and biological analyses; and biological cells and organelles often fall within or near the mikroskala. The concept sits between the nanoscale, which deals with structures below roughly 100 nanometers, and the macroscale, guiding how physical laws and engineering practices shift across size regimes.