True or False: Bulk degradation is the degradation of material layer by layer?

Bulk degradation refers to the process where the entire thickness of a material degrades uniformly throughout the volume rather than from the surface inward. This means that as the degradation progresses, the material maintains a consistent composition throughout its body, and the degradation occurs simultaneously at all points within the material rather than layer by layer.

In contrast, layer-by-layer degradation is indicative of surface erosion or degradation where the outermost layers of material break down and become weak before the underlying layers. This distinction is crucial in tissue engineering, where the method of degradation can significantly impact how scaffolds interact with surrounding tissues, support cell integration, and allow for the gradual replacement of the material by new tissue.

The assertion that bulk degradation occurs layer by layer is incorrect, as that describes a different degradation mechanism. Therefore, the correct response is that the statement is false.