The International Standardization of Nanotechnologies

Abstract

We describe the standardization of nanotechnology by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ISO/TC229 was established with three working groups (WGs) in 2006, which are “Terminology and nomenclature,” “Measurement and Characterization,” and “Health, Safety, and Environment.” Now, the Technical Committee (TC) consists of fiveWGs, including two WGs on “Material Specification” and “Products and Applications”standardization. IEC/TC113 was established in 2008. The TC consists ofeight WGs. WG1 (Terminology and Nomenclature) and WG2 (Measurements and Characterization) are joint WGs between ISO/TC229 and IEC/TC113. Joint WG2 published18 documents onsixpriority areas (“Nanocarbon Materials,” “Engineered Nanoparticles,” “Nanocoatings,” “Composites and Porous Structures,” “Basic Metrology,” and “Reference Materials”) and nineprojects are currently being implemented. The WGs have been established in Nanotechnology Business Creation Initiative to develop standards for the measurement of nanoparticle size and distribution. The results of the round-robin test are presented in the document “ISO/DIS 19749 Nanotechnologies̶ Measurements of particle size and shape distributions by scanning electron microscopy.” Furthermore, Japan (NBCI and AIST) led the Study Group on tiered approach tonanomaterial characterization. From now on, the ISO/ TC229-IEC/TC113 joint WG2 will develop the documents related to the measurement and characterization of various nanomaterials and general nanoparticles for use in nanoproduct distribution.