Measurement of Water Vapor Permeability of Bio-polymer Films

생고분자 필름의 투습도 측정

Water vapor permeability of films is commonly calculated from the water vapor transmission rate of the film measured using a permeability cup method which is essentially a gravimetric method. This method was originally developed for petroleum based plastic films with low water vapor permeability. In the case of hydrophilic bio-polymer films, the resistance caused by a stagnant air layer, which is developed between the underside of the film mounted on the cup and the surface of the desiccant saturated salt solution or distilled water, can be significant and, if neglected, ran lead to underestimation of water vapor transmission rates. Therefore, it is necessary to correct water vapor transmission rate data to accurately estimate the water vapor permeability of bio-polymer films.