porositythat

Porositythat is a proposed metric in porous materials research that aims to unify porosity fraction with the connectivity of the pore network into a single descriptor. The term is not widely standardized and appears mainly in exploratory studies that seek to link microstructure to transport properties.

Definition and scope: Porositythat describes the propensity of a pore system to support continuous flow paths. In practice it combines measures of porosity with indicators of pore connectivity, pore throat size distribution, and tortuosity to estimate how readily fluids or gases can move through a material. It is intended to provide a transport-relevant characterization beyond porosity alone, while avoiding full pore-scale simulations.

Measurement and estimation: Estimation typically relies on imaging and modeling. Micro-computed tomography, X-ray methods, or magnetic resonance imaging supply data on pore geometry, which can be analyzed with pore-network modeling, percolation analysis, or machine learning to derive a porositythat score. Some approaches calibrate the index against measured permeability or diffusion coefficients to link the descriptor to transport behavior.

Applications: Potential uses include evaluation of reservoir rocks, hydraulic barriers, filtration media, and cementitious materials, where transport properties depend on not just how much pore space exists but how well-connected it is. The concept is discussed as a way to capture transport potential in heterogeneous materials.

Limitations and status: Because porositythat lacks a standardized definition and widely accepted calculation method, it remains a niche concept. Reproducibility and comparability across studies are challenges, and the term is not yet part of routine industry practice. Related concepts include porosity, permeability, pore connectivity, tortuosity, and percolation theory.