ugjennomtrengelighet

Ugjenomtrengelighet is a Norwegian noun that denotes the quality of being impossible to penetrate or pass through. The term combines u- (not) + gjennomtrenge (to penetrate) + -lighet (suffix meaning quality). It is used in various fields to describe barriers that resist the passage of liquids, gases, or signals.

In materials science and civil engineering, impermeability describes how a material resists fluid or gas infiltration. It is quantified by properties such as permeability, diffusion coefficient, or water vapor transmission rate. Materials used for high impermeability include ceramics, metals, glass, and polymer films with impermeable coatings. Typical applications include waterproof membranes, hermetic seals in packaging, and protective barriers in construction.

In geology and environmental engineering, impermeable barriers prevent leachate or contaminants from migrating through soils or rock, as in clay liners in landfills or waterproof coatings for basements.

Within physics and chemistry, the concept links to ideas of impenetrable barriers or hard-sphere models, and to quantum mechanical impenetrability in certain potential barriers.

In information security and systems design, ugjennomtrengelighet is often used metaphorically to describe systems intended to be resistant to intrusion. In practice, no system is perfectly impermeable; security strategies emphasize reducing risk through defense in depth, monitoring, and least-privilege access.

Limitations include the trade-off between impermeability and other properties such as breathability, flexibility, or cost. Testing standards and quality control are essential to verify actual impermeability.