ISO 15105-2:2003

Overview

ISO 15105-2:2003 - "Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of gas‑transmission rate - Part 2: Equal‑pressure method" specifies an equal‑pressure, isobaric test for measuring the gas‑transmission rate (GTR) of plastic films, sheetings, laminates, co‑extruded and flexible plastic‑coated materials. The method measures permeation driven by a partial‑pressure difference while keeping total pressure equal on both sides of a test specimen. Annexes give practical implementations, including oxygen measurement using a coulometric sensor and detection by gas chromatography.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applies to any plastic material in film or sheet form, including laminates and coated materials.
• Test principle: Two‑chamber transmission cell; one chamber supplied with test gas, the other swept with carrier gas. Identical total pressure in both chambers; permeation occurs due to partial‑pressure difference.
• Specimen preparation:
  • Representative, defect‑free specimens larger than the permeation area.
  • Thickness measured per ISO 4593 at ≥5 points; report min/max/average.
  • Typically use three specimens unless otherwise agreed.
• Conditioning and temperature:
  • Drying or humidity conditioning as appropriate (e.g., 48 h drying or conditioned at specified RH).
  • Default test temperature 23 °C ± 2 °C unless otherwise specified.
  • Tabled sets of diffusion conditions include several RH options (0 %, 50 %, 60 %, 75 %, 85 % at 23 °C; also 10 °C/85 %).
• Apparatus and operation:
  • Transmission cell with laminar flow on both sides; effective permeation area typically between 1 cm² and 150 cm².
  • Carrier and test gas flow rates generally 5–100 ml/min; purge and stabilization required prior to measurement.
  • Gasket materials must have negligible permeation relative to the specimen.
• Detection methods:
  • Annex A: Coulometric sensor (recommended for oxygen‑transmission rate, OTR).
  • Annex B: Gas chromatography (for other gases/mixtures).
• Reporting and precision:
  • Results and test report formats given in annexes. Precision not specified (no interlaboratory data available at time of publication).

Applications and practical value

• Measurement of oxygen‑transmission rate (OTR) and other gas permeabilities for:
  • Food and beverage packaging (shelf‑life and barrier quality).
  • Pharmaceutical packaging (blister packs, foil laminates).
  • Industrial barrier films (chemical or moisture protection).
  • R&D, quality control, supplier qualification and comparative testing.
• Useful for materials selection, barrier optimization, and regulatory compliance where quantified gas‑barrier performance is required.

Who should use this standard

• Materials scientists, packaging engineers, QC/test laboratories, film and laminate manufacturers, converters, and regulatory bodies assessing barrier properties of plastic films and flexible packaging.

Related standards

• ISO 15105-1 (Differential‑pressure method) - alternative technique for GTR.
• ISO 4593 - thickness measurement for films and sheetings (referenced for specimen thickness).