Permeability of plastic films to methyl bromide: A comparative laboratory study

The permeability of plastic films to the fumigant methyl bromide (MB) was measured by two different methods, in order to facilitate the selection of films which are impermeable to the gas. Polyethylene-based films are highly permeable to MB, as evidenced by both methods. In contrast, multilayer coextruded films which have a layer of barrier material such as polyamide (PA) or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) were significantly less permeable to MB, as reflected by the parameters permeability rate, time to 90% concentration (TC90, by the diffusion method) and lag-time values (by the variable-volume method). A significant correlation was found between the permeability rate assessed by the diffusion method and that obtained with the variable-volume method. Permeability of all films increased with temperature as evidenced by all tested parameters. This increase was more pronounced with polyethylene films, the permeabilities of which increased five- to six-fold when the temperature was increased from 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The effect of temperature on barrier-him permeability was less significant. Permeability of films to MB was affected by additional factors such as additives, the length of the monomer side-chain, and the thickness and density of polyethylene films. (C) 1998 SCI.