Permeation and Polymers : Mecadi GmbH : Permeation Measurement Services

Gas permeability (carrier gas method) DIN 53380-3 / DIN 53380-S

Description

Testing method for determining the oxygen transmission rate of plastic films, hollow parts and tubes (other testing media and sample materials on request).

Related standards:

DIN 53380-1,
DIN 53380-2,
DIN 53380-4: Methods for the determination of gas permeability;
ISO 1399:1983 Elastomers, determination of gas permeability, test with constant volume;
ISO 2872:1977 Testing of rubber, Determination of gas permeability, test with constant pressure.

Test method

The test sample is mounted in a permeation cell so as to form the barrier between to chambers.

One chamber is flushed with the test gas (oxygen, air, ...). The permeated gas is transported to the detector by a stream of carrier gas (nitrogen, ...) which flushes the second chamber.

With hollow parts or tubes the carrier gas flushes the inner volume and the testing media surrounds it.

Testing medium

The standard provides only O

₂ but

with other detectors it is possible to work with CH

₄, N

₂, Ar, He, H

₂, Cl

₂ or other gases.

Our testing cells are nearly universal in usage due to noncorrosive construction.

Please contact us for special applications. The testing method is normally limited to substances or mixtures which contain substances with very skewing permeation rates.

Required specimen

For testing please send us a sample of the approximate size of a sheet of paper (DIN A4, 210*297 mm).

For non flat specimens: please send after consulting with us.

Scope of the standard: 50 or 100 cm

² active area for films.

The specimens shall be uniform in thickness, representative for the material and free of pinholes and folds.

On request we measure your sample thickness according to DIN 53534.

We recommend the measurement of three independent samples per test (minimum number not regulated by the standard). Our standard is to measure samples of 20 µm - 3 mm, others on request. We perform the preparation of the samples for you.

For different test gases and type of samples we use different sized samples. If you want to conduct the cutting of the specimens please contact us for the required dimensions.

For sensitive coating tests sometimes it makes sense to prepare the sample first followed by coating afterwards.

Please inform us, if your samples tend to mechanical failure under applied pressure (of the test gas or the sealings).

Test conditions

Temperature and gas pressure are not regulated by the standard.

Mecadi's possible testing temperatures:

standard - 50 °C up to +150 °C,
other temperatures on request.

Temperature tolerance possible with Mecadi equipment:
better than +/- 0,1 K (Experience shows that +/- 1°K tolerance leads to permeation rate scattering up to 20 %).

Mecadi's possible testing pressures:

standard: till 100 bar,
others on request.

Please contact us for informations about special effects and requirements for the samples at high pressures.

Also possible are temperature profiles (nonisothermic measurements) for the determination of morphology changes and the influence of media and pressure on polymer properties.

Based on this method, Mecadi offers further examination to determine gas solubilities (sorption and desorption), diffusion coefficients and the measurement of break through times through barriers.

Furthermore interactions between media and polymer can be investigated. So the predictions according resitance, physical and chemical reactions under process conditions can help in the selection process of materials.

Detection limit

Range of the norm: approx. 0,05 or 1000 cm

³/(m

²*d*bar) for films or 0,0005 to 10 cm

³/(d*bar) for hollow parts.

Please contact us for your differing requirements.

Result unit

Films: area related oxygen permeability in cm³/(m²*d*bar) ;
based on the thickness: permeability coefficient in cm³*mm/(m²*d*bar).
Hollow part related oxygen permeability in cm³/(d*bar). Length related oxygen permeability in cm³/(m*d*bar) for tubes.
Declaration of cm³ at normal condition according to DIN 1343: volume of the gas at 273,15 K (0 °C) and 101325 Pa (1 atm).