ASTM D3985-17

Standard Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The OTR is an important determinant of the packaging protection afforded by barrier materials. It is not, however, the sole determinant, and additional tests, based on experience, must be used to correlate packaging performance with OTR. It is suitable as a referee method of testing, provided that the purchaser and the seller have agreed on sampling procedures, standardization procedures, test conditions, and acceptance criteria.  
5.2 Limited statistical data on correlations with Test Method D1434 methods are available4; however, the oxygen transmission rate of a standard reference material (see 12.1) as determined manometrically by NIST, is in good agreement with the values obtained in the coulometric interlaboratory test using material from the same manufacturing lot. Thus, this test method may be used as a referee method.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determination of the steady-state rate of transmission of oxygen gas through plastics in the form of film, sheeting, laminates, coextrusions, or plastic-coated papers or fabrics. It provides for the determination of (1) oxygen gas transmission rate (OTR), (2) the permeance of the film to oxygen gas (PO2), and (3) oxygen permeability coefficient (P′O2) in the case of homogeneous materials.  
1.2 This test method does not purport to be the only method for measurement of OTR. There may be other methods of OTR determination that use other oxygen sensors and procedures.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2017
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.10 - Permeation

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1927-20 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate, Permeability and Permeance at Controlled Relative Humidity Through Barrier Materials Using a Coulometric Detector
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3985 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and
1
Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3985; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope D1898Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determination
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
of the steady-state rate of transmission of oxygen gas through
F1927TestMethodforDeterminationofOxygenGasTrans-
plastics in the form of film, sheeting, laminates, coextrusions,
mission Rate, Permeability and Permeance at Controlled
or plastic-coated papers or fabrics. It provides for the determi-
Relative Humidity Through Barrier Materials Using a
nation of (1) oxygen gas transmission rate (OTR), (2) the
Coulometric Detector
permeance of the film to oxygen gas (PO ), and (3) oxygen
2
permeability coefficient (P'O ) in the case of homogeneous
2
3. Terminology
materials.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 Thistestmethoddoesnotpurporttobetheonlymethod
3.1.1 oxygen permeability coeffıcient (P'O )—the product of
2
formeasurementofOTR.TheremaybeothermethodsofOTR
the permeance and the thickness of film. The permeability is
determination that use other oxygen sensors and procedures.
meaningfulonlyforhomogeneousmaterials,inwhichcaseitis
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
a property characteristic of the bulk material. This quantity
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
should not be used, unless the relationship between thickness
standard.
andpermeancehasbeenverifiedontestsusingseveraldifferent
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
thicknessesofthematerial.TheSIunitofoxygenpermeability
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the is the mol/(m·s·Pa). The test conditions (see 3.1.3) must be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
stated.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.1.2 oxygen permeance (PO )—the ratio of the OTR to the
2
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
difference between the partial pressure of O on the two sides
2
2
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
of the film.The SI unit of permeance is the mol/(m ·s·Pa).The
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
test conditions (see 5.1) must be stated.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.3 oxygen transmission rate (OTR)—the quantity of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
oxygen gas passing through a unit area of the parallel surfaces
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
of a plastic film per unit time under the conditions of test. The
2
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
SI unit of transmission rate is the mol/(m ·s). The test
conditions, including temperature and oxygen partial pressure
2. Referenced Documents
on both sides of the film must be stated.
3
2
3.1.3.1 A commonly used unit of OTR is the cm (STP)/
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 3
(m ·d) at one atmosphere pressure difference where 1 cm
D1434TestMethodforDeterminingGasPermeabilityChar-
(STP) is 44.62 µmol, 1 atm is 0.1013 MPa, and one day is
acteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting
3
86.4×10 s.TheOTRinSIunitsisobtainedbymultiplyingthe
−10
value in inch-pound units by 5.163×10 .
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF02onPrimary
4. Summary of Test Method
Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.10 on
Permeation.
4.1 Theoxygengastransmissionrateisdeterminedafterthe
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally
ε1 sample has equilibrated in a dry test environment. In this
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D3985–05 (2010) .
DOI: 10.1520/D3985-17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D3985 − 17
FIG. 1 A Pract
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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: D3985 − 05 (Reapproved 2010) D3985 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and
1
Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3985; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in November 2010.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determination of the steady-state rate of transmission of oxygen gas through plastics
in the form of film, sheeting, laminates, coextrusions, or plastic-coated papers or fabrics. It provides for the determination of (1)
oxygen gas transmission rate (OTR), (2) the permeance of the film to oxygen gas (PO ), and (3) oxygen permeability coefficient
2
(P'O ) in the case of homogeneous materials.
2
1.2 This test method does not purport to be the only method for measurement of OTR. There may be other methods of OTR
determination that use other oxygen sensors and procedures.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
F1927 Test Method for Determination of Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate, Permeability and Permeance at Controlled Relative
Humidity Through Barrier Materials Using a Coulometric Detector
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 oxygen permeability coeffıcient (P'O )—the product of the permeance and the thickness of film. The permeability is
2
meaningful only for homogeneous materials, in which case it is a property characteristic of the bulk material. This quantity should
not be used, unless the relationship between thickness and permeance has been verified on tests using several different thicknesses
of the material. The SI unit of oxygen permeability is the mol/(m·s·Pa). The test conditions (see 3.1.3) must be stated.
3.1.2 oxygen permeance (PO )—the ratio of the OTR to the difference between the partial pressure of O on the two sides of
2 2
2
the film. The SI unit of permeance is the mol/(m ·s·Pa). The test conditions (see 5.1) must be stated.
3.1.3 oxygen transmission rate (OTR)—the quantity of oxygen gas passing through a unit area of the parallel surfaces of a
2
plastic film per unit time under the conditions of test. The SI unit of transmission rate is the mol/(m ·s). The test conditions,
including temperature and oxygen partial pressure on both sides of the film must be stated.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on FlexiblePrimary Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.10 on
Permeation.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010Nov. 15, 2017. Published November 2010December 2017. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 20052010
ε1
as D3985 – 05 (2010) . DOI: 10.1520/D3985-05R10E01.10.1520/D3985-17.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3985 − 17
3 2 3
3.1.3.1 A commonly used unit of OTR is the cm (STP)/(m ·d) at one atm
...