ASTM F1249-06(2011)

Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The purpose of this test method is to obtain reliable values for the WVTR of plastic film and sheeting.
WVTR is an important property of packaging materials and can be directly related to shelf life and packaged product stability.
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 up to 3 mm (0.1 in.) in thickness, consisting of single or multilayer synthetic or natural polymers and foils, including coated materials. It provides for the determination of (1) water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), (2) the permeance of the film to water vapor, and (3) for homogeneous materials, water vapor permeability coefficient.
Note 1—Values for water vapor permeance and water vapor permeability must be used with caution. The inverse relationship of WVTR to thickness and the direct relationship of WVTR to the partial pressure differential of water vapor may not always apply.  
1.2 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2011
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.10 - Permeation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1249-06 - Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1767-21 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1729M-21 - Standard Specification for Aluminum Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D6577-15(2019) - Standard Guide for Testing Industrial Protective Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D3595-14(2019)e1 - Standard Specification for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Extruded Plastic Sheet and Film
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D6701-21 - Standard Test Method for Determining Water Vapor Transmission Rates Through Nonwoven and Plastic Barriers
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM F2902-16e1 - Standard Guide for Assessment of Absorbable Polymeric Implants
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1423-21 - Standard Guide for Selecting Jacketing Materials for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1767M-21 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E398-20 - Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Sheet Materials Using Dynamic Relative Humidity Measurement
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1729-21 - Standard Specification for Aluminum Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM F2896-23 - Standard Specification for Reinforced Polyethylene Composite Pipe For The Transport Of Oil And Gas And Hazardous Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D6434-12(2018) - Standard Guide for the Selection of Test Methods for Flexible Polypropylene Geomembranes
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E1745-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM F3510-21 - Standard Guide for Characterizing Fiber-Based Constructs for Tissue-Engineered Medical Products
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011

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: F1249 − 06(Reapproved 2011)
Standard Test Method for
Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and
1
Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1249; 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 Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the
3. Terminology
rate of water vapor transmission through flexible barrier
3.1 Definitions:
materials. The method is applicable to sheets and films up to 3
3.1.1 water vapor permeability coeffıcient—the product of
mm (0.1 in.) in thickness, consisting of single or multilayer
the permeance and the thickness of the film. The permeability
synthetic or natural polymers and foils, including coated
is meaningful only for homogeneous materials, in which case
materials. It provides for the determination of (1) water vapor
it is a property characteristic of bulk material.
transmission rate (WVTR), (2) the permeance of the film to
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This quantity should not be used unless
water vapor, and (3) for homogeneous materials, water vapor
the relationship between thickness and permeance has been
permeability coefficient.
verified in tests using several thicknesses of the material. An
NOTE 1—Values for water vapor permeance and water vapor perme-
accepted unit of permeability is the metric perm centimeter, or
ability must be used with caution. The inverse relationship of WVTR to
2
1 g/m per day per mm Hg·cm of thickness. The SI unit is the
thickness and the direct relationship of WVTR to the partial pressure
2
mol/m ·s·Pa·mm. The test conditions (see 3.1) must be stated.
differential of water vapor may not always apply.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.2 water vapor permeance—the ratio of a barrier’s
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the WVTR to the vapor pressure difference between the two
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- surfaces.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.1.2.1 Discussion—An accepted unit of permeance is the
2
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. metric perm, or 1 g/m per day per mm Hg. The SI unit is the
2
mol/m ·s·Pa. Since the permeance of a specimen is generally a
2. Referenced Documents
function of relative humidity and temperature, the test condi-
2
tions must be stated.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insu-
3.1.3 water vapor transmission rate (WVTR)—the time rate
lation
of water vapor flow normal to the surfaces, under steady-state
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
conditions, per unit area.
2
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
3.1.3.1 Discussion—An accepted unit of WVTR is g/m per
Materials
day. The test conditions of relative humidity and temperature
E104 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity
where the humidity is the difference in relative humidity across
by Means of Aqueous Solutions
the specimens, must be stated.
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to 4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A dry chamber is separated from a wet chamber of
known temperature and humidity by the barrier material to be
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on Flexible
tested. The dry chamber and the wet chamber make up a
Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.10 on
Permeation.
diffusion cell in which the test film is sealed. Water vapor
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2011. Published November 2011. Originally
diffusing through the film mixes with the gas in the dry
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F1249 – 06. DOI:
chamberandiscarriedtoapressure-modulatedinfraredsensor.
10.1520/F1249-06R11.
2
This sensor measures the fraction of infrared energy absorbed
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
by the water vapor and produces an electrical signal, the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
amplitude of which is proportional to water vapor concentra-
the ASTM website.
3
tion.The amplitude of the electrical signal produced by the test
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. film is then compared to the signal produced by measurement
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