Significance and Use

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.

Limited statistical data on correlations with Test Method D1434 methods are available ; 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.

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 ₂ ), and ( 3 ) oxygen permeability coefficient (P'O ₂ ) 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.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting

D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics

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

Keywords

coulometric; oxygen transmission rate; permeability; permeation; plastic films; Coulometry; Diffusion cell apparatus; Flow and flow rate--thermoplastics; Gases; Gas transmission rate (GTR); Laminates (plastic); Oxygen gas transmission rate (O 2 GTR); Permeability; Permeance; Plastic sheet and film; Rubber-/plastic-coated fabric;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 83.140.10 (Films and sheets)

DOI: 10.1520/D3985-05R10E01

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D3985