Mechanisms of Vapor Permeation Through Multilayer Barrier Films: Lag Time Versus Equilibrium Permeation

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · Journal of Applied Physics, 96(4):1840-1849

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1768610· OSTI ID:15020879

Graff, Gordon L; Williford, Rick E; Burrows, Paul E

Multilayer, thin-film organic/inorganic composite barrier layers have recently been reported to achieve water vapor permeation rates (WVTR) of <10 5 g/m2/day at 25oC/40%RH on polyethylene terephthalate substrates. Using both transient and steady-state vapor permeation measurements combined with classical Fickian diffusion models, we determine the mechanism of vapor permeation through such barrier structures and show that results obtained to date are limited not by equilibrium diffusion but by lag-time effects caused by the extremely long effective path length for the diffusing gas. The implications for further improvement of flexible thin film vapor barriers are discussed.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15020879
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-41581; TRN: US200521%%306
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, 96(4):1840-1849, Vol. 96, Issue 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
MEMBRANES
DIFFUSION
POLYETHYLENES
WATER VAPOR
PERMEABILITY
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
TIME DEPENDENCE