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IS 4124:1981 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for glossary of terms relating to powders. This standard provides a comprehensive glossary of terms relating to powders, covering definitions for particle size, shape, physical properties, and various sizing methods such as sieving.
Glossary of terms relating to powders
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Sieves, Sieving and Other Sizing Methods
! Highly useful for standardizing communication regarding particle shapes (e.g., acicular, dendritic, nodular) in technical reports and material specifications.
! This code does not contain testing procedures or equipment specifications; refer to IS 460 for test sieves and IS 1607 for methods of test sieving.
powdersparticulatesgranular materials
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
ISO 26824:2013ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Particle characterization of particulate systems — Vocabulary
Provides a comprehensive, modern vocabulary for particle systems, directly overlapping with the intent of IS 4124.
ASTM B243 - 22ASTM International (USA)
MediumCurrent
Standard Terminology of Powder Metallurgy
Focuses on terminology for metal powders, a subset of the general powder field, but covers many fundamental terms.
ISO 9276-1:2023ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
MediumCurrent
Representation of results of particle size analysis — Part 1: Graphical representation
Overlaps on the specific terminology used to describe and report particle size distributions, a key aspect of powder characterization.
Key Differences
≠IS 4124:1981 is a relatively brief, high-level glossary. Modern standards like ISO 26824 are significantly more comprehensive, structured thematically, and define a much wider range of terms related to advanced characterization techniques.
≠The Indian standard predates the widespread study of nanotechnology and therefore contains no definitions for terms like 'nanoparticle' or 'nanomaterial', which are explicitly defined in modern ISO and ASTM vocabularies.
≠Modern international standards provide rigorous definitions for statistical descriptors of particle size distribution (e.g., D10, D50, D90, Span). IS 4124 defines 'particle size distribution' as a concept but does not define these crucial quantitative metrics.
≠International standards often provide more nuanced definitions. For example, the distinction between an 'agglomerate' (weakly bonded) and an 'aggregate' (strongly bonded) is based on bond strength in ISO 26824, whereas IS 4124 uses less precise terms like 'adhering' vs 'welded'.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 4124 and its international counterparts share the fundamental goal of establishing a standardized vocabulary to ensure clear and unambiguous communication in the field of powder technology.
≈Core, fundamental terms such as 'powder', 'particle', 'sieve analysis', and 'apparent density' are defined in both the Indian and international standards, forming a common conceptual basis.
≈All standards recognize and define basic powder properties related to mass, volume, and flow, acknowledging their importance in characterizing powder behavior.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Definition of 'Powder'
An aggregate of fine particles. Note — The maximum particle size is of the order of 1000 µm.
A collection of fine solid particles, usually in a dry state, with a maximum individual particle size of approximately 1 mm.
ISO 26824:2013
Definition of 'Apparent Density'
The mass of a unit volume of a powder in the loose or as-poured state, usually expressed in g/cm³.
Mass of a powder divided by its apparent volume. (Apparent volume is then defined as the volume determined by a specified method).
ASTM B243 - 22
Particle Size Distribution Metric (D50)
Not defined.
Defined as 'median particle size'; the particle size below which 50 % of the population is found.
ISO 9276-1:2023
Definition of 'Nanoparticle'
Not defined in the standard.
Particle with a nominal dimension in the range 1 nm to 100 nm.
ISO/TS 80004-2:2015
Definition of 'Flow Rate'
The time required for a given mass of powder to flow through an orifice of specified dimensions. (This defines flow time, the inverse of rate).
Rate at which a powder will flow under specified conditions, typically expressed as mass per unit time (g/s).
ASTM B243 - 22
Definition of 'Agglomerate'
An assemblage of particles adhering to each other.
An assemblage of particles which are loosely bonded to each other.
ISO 26824:2013
Definition of 'Aggregate'
An assemblage of particles which are welded together.
An assemblage of particles which are strongly bonded or fused together.
ISO 26824:2013
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values0
No quick reference values available for this code yet.