ASTM_F_3136_-_15.pdf

Designation:F313615Standard Test Method forOxygen Gas Transmission Rate through Plastic Film andSheeting using a Dynamic Accumulation Method1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3136;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determinationof the transmission rate of oxygen gas through plastics in theform of film,sheeting,laminates,coextrusions,coated oruncoated papers or fabrics.1.2 This test method is not the only method for measure-ment of the oxygen transmission rate(OTR).There are othermethods of OTR determination that use other oxygen sensorsand procedures.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.Commonly used metric units used to report OxygenTransmission Rate are included in Terminology,Procedure,Precision and Bias sections and in the Calculation section ofthe Appendix.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D3985 Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission RateThrough Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a CoulometricSensorE177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test MethodsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodF2622 Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission RateThrough Plastic Film and Sheeting Using Various SensorsF2714 Test Method for Oxygen Headspace Analysis ofPackages Using Fluorescent Decay3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 Oxygen Transmission Rate(OTR)the quantity ofoxygen gas passing through a unit area of the parallel surfacesof a plastic film per unit time under the conditions of test.TheSI unit of transmission rate is the mol/(m2s).The test condi-tions including temperature,relative humidity and oxygenpartial pressure on both sides of the film must be stated in thereport.3.1.1.1 DiscussionA commonly used unit of OTR is thecm3(STP)/(m2day)at one atmosphere pressure differencewhere 1 cm3(STP)is 44.62 mol,1 atmosphere is 0.1013MPa,and one day is 86.4 103s.The OTR in SI units isobtained by multiplying the value in commonly used units by5.160 10-10.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The specimen is mounted as a sealed semi-barrierbetween two chambers,which together make up the perme-ation apparatus.The sensing well which contains the oxygensensor is slowly purged by a stream of pure nitrogen or otheroxygen deficient gas mixture until the oxygen concentrationrepresents that of the purge gas.A commercial grade ofcompressed nitrogen containing less than 0.05%oxygen isrecommended.Agas of known oxygen concentration,typicallyair or pure oxygen,is directed into the opposite chamber,thedriving well.Oxygen concentration in the sensing well con-taining the oxygen sensor is measured periodically and theaccumulating oxygen concentration recorded.The OxygenTransmission Rate(OTR)parameter is determined from theslope of the logarithm of accumulated oxygen concentration inthe sensing well versus time as described in 14.2.5.Significance and Use5.1 The Oxygen Transmission Rate is an important deter-minant of packaging functionality afforded by packagingmaterials for a wide variety of packaged products includingfood,pharmaceuticals and medical devices.In someapplications,sufficient oxygen must be allowed to permeateinto the package.In others,the oxygen ingress must beminimized to maintain product quality.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on FlexibleBarrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.10 onPermeation.Current edition approved April 1,2015.Published April 2015.DOI:10.1520/F3136-15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.2 Other ASTM Standard Methods to measure the oxygentransmission rate are described in Standard Test Method D3985and Standard Test Method F2622.6.Interferences6.1 Any leakage within the permeation apparatus ormounted packaging film will affect results.A means to assessleakage is described in paragraph 9.2.6.2 The condition of the sample film must be noted such aswrinkles or other defects can affect results.7.Apparatus7.1 Oxygen Gas Transmission Apparatus,as diagrammed inFig.1 with the following:7.1.1 Permeation Apparatus(diffusion cell)shall consist oftwo metal h