ASTM F3299-18

Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using an Electrolytic Detection Sensor (Coulometric P<inf>2</inf>O<inf >5</inf> Sensor)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of this test method is to obtain reliable values for the WVTR of plastic film and sheeting.  
5.2 WVTR is an important property of packaging materials and can be directly related to shelf life and packaged product stability.  
5.3 Data from this test method is suitable as a referee method of testing, provided that the purchaser and seller have agreed on sampling procedures, standardization procedures, test conditions, and acceptance criteria.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the rate of water vapor transmission through flexible barrier materials. The method is applicable to sheets and films consisting of single or multilayer synthetic or natural polymers and foils, including coated materials. It provides for the determination of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR).  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 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: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2018
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.10 - Permeation

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F3299 − 18
Standard Test Method for
Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and
Sheeting Using an Electrolytic Detection Sensor
1
(Coulometric P O Sensor)
2 5
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3299; 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. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the 3.1 Definitions:
rate of water vapor transmission through flexible barrier 3.1.1 water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), n—the time
materials. The method is applicable to sheets and films rate of water vapor flow normal to the surfaces, under
consisting of single or multilayer synthetic or natural polymers steady-state conditions, per unit area.
2
and foils, including coated materials. It provides for the 3.1.1.1 Discussion—An accepted unit of WVTR is g/m per
2
determination of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). day (g/m ·24h). The test conditions of relative humidity and
temperature, where the humidity is the difference in relative
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
humidity across the specimens, must be stated.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 A dry chamber is separated from a wet chamber of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
known temperature and humidity by the barrier material to be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tested. The dry chamber and the wet chamber make up a test
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
cell in which the test film is sealed. Water vapor permeating
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
through the film mixes with the dry carrier gas in the dry
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
chamber and is carried to an electrolytic sensor. The carrier gas
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
is passed through the sensor where water vapor it holds is
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
absorbed by phosphorous pentoxide (P O ). Direct current,
2 5
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
applied to electrodes of the sensor, dissociates the water into
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
hydrogen and oxygen. Two electrons are required to electro-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
lyze each water molecule, and the current in the cell represents
the number of molecules dissociated per unit time.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5. Significance and Use
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
5.1 The purpose of this test method is to obtain reliable
Materials
values for the WVTR of plastic film and sheeting.
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
5.2 WVTR is an important property of packaging materials
ASTM Test Methods
and can be directly related to shelf life and packaged product
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
stability.
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
5.3 Data from this test method is suitable as a referee
method of testing, provided that the purchaser and seller have
agreed on sampling procedures, standardization procedures,
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on Primary
test conditions, and acceptance criteria.
Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.10 on
Permeation.
6. Apparatus
Current edition approved May 1, 2018. Published May 2018. DOI: 10.1520/
F3299-18.
6.1 An example of a suitable apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
It includes a test chamber consisting of two metal halves, an
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
electrolytic cell to determine the amount of water vapor
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. transmitted, a flow meter, a drying device, and switch valves.
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F3299 − 18
Key:
1 – Drying device (containing e.g. a molecular sieve)
2 – RH Generator
3 – Test chamber (temperature controlled)
4 – Specimen
5 – Electrolytic cell and a flow meter
6 – Switch valves
7 – Amplifier
8 – Computer
FIG. 1 Measuring System
6.1.1 Drying Dev
...