Moisture and oxygen can degrade packaged goods. Moisture leads to spoilage, clumping, and decay, while oxygen causes oxidation, resulting in discoloration, flavor loss, and reduced shelf life. Effective packaging barrier properties are crucial for defense. These tests play a vital role across various industries. In food packaging, they are essential for extending shelf life by minimizing spoilage. For pharmaceuticals, they safeguard drug efficacy by preventing degradation from moisture or oxygen. In the realm of medical devices, these tests ensure the maintenance of sterility, a critical factor for patient safety. Furthermore, in electronics manufacturing, they are used to shield sensitive components from the damaging effects of humidity, ensuring product reliability.
Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR)
WVTR measures how quickly water vapor passes through a material, expressed as grams per square meter per day (g/m²/day).
Dry foods (snacks, cereals) need very low WVTR, often below 1 g/m²/day, to stay crisp.
Pharmaceuticals require very low WVTR to maintain potency.
Building materials use WVTR to evaluate vapor barrier performance.
Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR)
OTR measures how fast oxygen permeates a material, measured in cubic centimeters per square meter per day (cc/m²/day).
Food packaging (meats, cheeses) relies on very low OTR, often below 10 cc/m²/day, to prevent spoilage.
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices need extremely low OTR to ensure stability and sterility.
Beverages use low OTR to keep carbonation.
Labthink C406H Oxygen /Water Vapor Transmission Rate Test System is based on the testing principle of Coulometric oxygen sensor and infrared water vapor sensor. It is designed and manufactured according to ASTM D3985、ASTM F1249，ISO 15106-2 and other relevant standards to provide high precision and high efficiency oxygen and water vapor transmission rate tests for high and medium gas barrier materials. It is suitable for testing the oxygen and water vapor transmission performance of films, sheets and related materials in the fields of food, medicine, medical devices, daily chemicals, photovoltaic, electronic and many others.
Manufacturers select materials based on barrier properties, considering product sensitivity, shelf-life, and environment. WVTR and OTR tests are vital for quantifying packaging barrier properties. They protect products from moisture and oxygen, ensuring quality and reliability. By understanding and utilizing these tests, manufacturers deliver safer, longer-lasting products. Remember that these numbers are rough estimations, and differ greatly depending on the product being packaged.
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