ISO 15106-3:2003

Overview

ISO 15106-3:2003 is an international standard developed by ISO that specifies a reliable instrumental method for determining the water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) of plastic films, plastic sheeting, and multi-layer structures containing plastics. Using an electrolytic detection sensor, this method enables rapid and accurate assessment of how much water vapour passes through a specific area of material under controlled conditions. This standard plays a crucial role in evaluating the barrier properties of plastics, which is essential for various applications where moisture control is critical.

Key Topics

• Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR): Measurement of the quantity of water vapour passing through plastic materials, expressed in grams per square meter per 24 hours [g/(m²·24h)].
• Electrolytic Detection Sensor Method: Utilizes an electrolytic cell with spiral wire electrodes coated with phosphorous pentoxide to detect and quantify moisture passing through the test specimen.
• Test Specimen Preparation: Requires specimens to be representative, defect-free, and uniformly thick.
• Conditioning and Test Environment: Specifies controlled conditioning (typically at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity) for accurate and repeatable results.
• Apparatus and Equipment: Describes a two-chamber transmission cell, drying tubes, flow meter, and electrolytic cell necessary for precise measurement.
• Test Procedure: Involves mounting the specimen, conditioning, running the test until steady-state permeation is reached, and calculating WVTR based on the measured electrolytic current.

Applications

ISO 15106-3:2003 is widely used across industries that require strict moisture barrier properties from plastic films and sheeting:

• Packaging Industry: Critical for food, pharmaceutical, and electronics packaging, where moisture ingress can compromise product safety and shelf life.
• Material Development and Quality Control: Assists manufacturers in assessing the performance of new plastic materials, ensuring they meet specific barrier requirements.
• Multi-layer Structures: Supports evaluation of complex materials where layers have distinct functions, including moisture resistance.
• Regulatory Compliance: Helps organizations meet international quality and performance standards, facilitating global trade and market access.

This standard simplifies the comparison of barrier properties across different materials and supports continuous improvement in film and sheeting manufacturing.

Related Standards

The ISO 15106 series addresses several methods for the determination of water vapour transmission rate in plastics:

• ISO 15106-1 - Humidity detection sensor method
• ISO 15106-2 - Infrared detection sensor method

Other relevant standards for similar applications include:

• ISO 2528:1995 - Sheet materials - Determination of water vapour transmission rate - Gravimetric (dish) method
• ISO 4593:1993 - Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of thickness by mechanical scanning

By aligning with these standards, organizations can adopt a comprehensive approach for evaluating the moisture barrier properties of plastics using the most suitable method for their application.

Keywords: ISO 15106-3, water vapour transmission rate, plastic film testing, electrolytic sensor, barrier properties, moisture vapor transmission, plastics standards, packaging quality, WVTR measurement, ISO plastic film standard