PERMEABILITY OF METALLIZED POLYMER-FILMS .1. METHOD FOR DETERMINING GAS-PERMEABILITY

The construction and function of an apparatus for the determination of gas permeability through metallized polymer films is described. The test gases N2, O2, and CO2 penetrate under pressure differences from 100 torr to 20 bar through galvanized ABS films (acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer). The metallic layers consists of chemically deposited Ni and a galvanic deposited Cu having a thickness of 2–30 μm. The quantity of permeated gases is determined by gas chromatography. The lowest permeability coefficient obtained is 10−17 (cm3 cm/cm2 sec torr). Leak effects can be measured quantitatively. The permeability of gas mixtures (i.e., air) can also be investigated. The apparatus allows the determination of extremely low permeability rates as well as those for conventional polymer systems. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.