A substrate is a material or surface upon which another material, organism, or process is applied, deposited, or takes place. It serves as the base or foundation for various activities depending on the context, such as growth, chemical reactions, or manufacturing processes.
Substrate in Different Contexts
- Electronics: A substrate is usually a silicon wafer that supports the fabrication of integrated circuits.
- Biology: It is the surface on which an organism lives or grows, such as a rock for algae or a culture dish for cells.
- Chemistry and Biochemistry: A substrate can be a molecule upon which an enzyme acts in a chemical reaction, being transformed into products. It can also refer to a surface upon which chemical reactions or coatings are applied.
- Manufacturing: The substrate is the base material on which coatings or films are applied to achieve certain properties, such as paper or metal.
The choice of substrate is important because it affects how well the subsequent material or process works, considering factors like surface roughness, chemical compatibility, and mechanical strength.
In summary, a substrate is fundamentally an underlying surface or material that supports or is acted upon by another entity or process.
