Water Vapor Permeability Test Method of Waterproof Breathable Membrane

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The waterproof breathable membrane is one new type of high polymer waterproof material, which is featured with ultra-resistance to high temperature, low temperature, corrosion, and aging. Today the waterproof breathable membrane has been widely used in various industries including building, automobile, medical, daily chemical, textile and electronic communication, etc.

For example, by using such material, the thermal performance of the construction can be guaranteed by releasing the water vapor in time. When being used in automobile, the light can be protected from water, dust, or oil contamination and additionally due to its gas breathability, the gas can be exchanged with the changing pressure, so that the pressure in the sealing elements can be reduced and the service life of the parts can be extended.

It can be easily understood from the examples mentioned above that the waterproof breathable membrane should have good waterproofness as well as sufficient water vapor permeability. It should be a regular job for those manufacturers to test the water vapor permeability of the waterproof breathable membrane.

This article provides a simplified test method for water vapor permeability of the waterproof breathable membrane for your reference. There are mainly two categories of test methods for water vapor transmission rate i.e. gravimetric method (also known as cup method and divided into dry cup method and wet cup method) and sensor method (including electrolytic sensor method, infrared sensor method and humidity sensor method). The testing instrument used in the tests mentioned in this article, Labthink W3/030 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester adopts gravimetric method.

Figure 1. Waterproof Breathable Membrane

Then the tests can be performed according to the following procedures.

(1)    Cut 3 pieces of specimens from the sample material. The diameter of the specimen should be 74mm.

(2)    Mount the 3 pieces of specimens in the 3 test dishes and then place the test dishes on the dish supports. Close the door of the instrument.

(3)    Set specimen name, specimen thickness, test temperature, test humidity and other specimen parameters and test parameters. Then start test.

(4)    When the tests are completed, the system will calculate and display the test results automatically.

The manufacturer or user of waterproof breathable membrane can determine whether the specimen materials can meet the requirements for use according to the test results obtained in water vapor transmission rate tests.

For more details about W3/030 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester, please visit www.labthink.com

About Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd:

Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd is one leading supplier of packaging testing instruments, which is headquartered in Jinan, China and operated in Boston, U.S.A.