Pervaporation, a novel technique for the measurement of vapor transmission rate of highly permeable films

Abstract

The moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of poly(ether-block-amide) breathable films were measured with a set-up based on the ASTM E96 E and BW methods. These methods led to reliable MVTR for films of low breathability, but not for films of high breathability. The latter shows MVTR values varying over a large range when the operating conditions are changed. An analysis of the mass and the heat transfers pointed out the crucial role of the transfer resistances in the external phases adjacent to the film. The pervaporation technique was designed to minimize these mass and heat transfer resistances using a powerful stirring of the upstream chamber and a good vacuum applied on the downstream chamber. The MVTR was determined from the weight of vapor condensed in a cool trap. The MVTR of films of high breathability were reliably determined by this method; their value was much higher than those obtained with the ASTM E96 BW method for the same films. The obtained intrinsic MVTR data suggest that (i) the film structure is more ordered at lower thickness, and (ii) the activation energy for water permeation is low, probably due to the high flexibility of polyether segments. The technique was successfully used for the measurement of a very high MVTR film made of poly(vinylalcohol), ca. 120 kg day −1 m −2, and for the measurement of the permeation rate of ethylacetate through a silicone rubber film.