The Difference Between Isotropy and Anisotropy

When scientists describe the natural world to its finest details, they use incredibly specific words to maximize clarity. However, this terminology is difficult to remember and hard to get right when first learning it. To help clarify, here is the difference between isotropy and anisotropy.

What Is Isotropy?

Isotropy and anisotropy both have to do with crystallography and the atomic orientation within materials. Isotropy describes materials that are direction-independent, meaning they act the same in all directions. So, if you apply a load to one place on the material, it will have the same strength and strain as if you had applied it elsewhere on the material.

Suppose you have a lens—which is isotropic—and you send a beam of light through it. No matter where you shine the light through the lens, it will have the same refractive index. This singular refraction is what makes eyeglass lenses work. Imagine if the angle light hit your eye changed constantly; you wouldn’t have stable light to see anything.

What Is Anisotropy?

Anisotropy sounds just like isotropy, but remember that it is the exact opposite. Anisotropy describes materials that are direction-dependent, meaning their properties change with the different directions. Wood, composite materials, non-cubic crystals—most items in nature are anisotropic since they have imperfect atomic organization. Anisotropic objects have more than one refractive index, so the light that hits the object refracts at differing speeds. While you can easily see through glass, it is near impossible to see through wood.

Isotropy and Anisotropy in Action

While these differences are interesting to analyze theoretically, they have very practical applications. Take our transite HT board at the Red Seal Electric Company, for instance. This high-density insulating board is isotropic by nature. So, it has equal strength in all directions, making it dimensionally stable and durable.

Knowing the difference between isotropy and anisotropy helps you make the right choice for your work. With an accurate understanding of a material’s capacities and limitations, you can avoid machining malfunctions. If you have any questions about choosing insulation materials, reach out to us at the Red Seal Electric Company today.