Elevated Test Pressure Significantly Reduces Dynamic Accumulation Oxygen Transmission Rate (ASTM F3136) Measurement Time for Barrier Packaging Films

摘要

Measurement of gas transmission rates of materials is important for successful package design. The dynamic accumulation (DA) method (ASTM F3136) is becoming increasingly popular for measuring oxygen transmission rate (OTR) due to its simplicity and low cost. However, measurement time increases with barrier properties of materials, limiting measurement throughput. A dynamic accumulation measurement prototype capable of operating up to 1,000 psig was developed in order to accelerate gas transfer by boosting concentration gradients via elevated absolute pressures. Results show that measurement results were independent of test pressure while measurement times were substantially reduced. These results also suggest that gas transmission rate testing using the steady state approach (e.g. ASTM D3985) will also benefit from tests performed at elevated pressures by boosting signal and/or expanding the range of measurement, permitting measurement of higher barrier films than are currentlyt possible.