Labthink C306H Infrared Sensor-Based Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Tester – Six-Chamber Permeation Analyzer
| Brand | Labthink |
|---|---|
| Model | C306H |
| Measurement Principle | Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (ASTM F1249 / ISO 15106-2) |
| Test Range | 0.02–40 g/(m²·day) @ 50 cm² |
| Resolution | 0.0001 g/(m²·day) |
| Repeatability | ±0.02 g/(m²·day) or ±2%, whichever is greater |
| Temperature Range | 15–50 °C (optional: 5–60 °C) |
| Temp. Stability | ±0.15 °C |
| RH Range | 5–90 %RH ±2% (at standard temp.) / 100 %RH |
| Test Area | 50 cm² (standard), optional 5 cm² or 1 cm² MASKs |
| Sample Size | 11.2 cm × 11.2 cm |
| Max. Thickness | 3 mm |
| Carrier Gas | ≥99.999% N₂, ≥280 kPa inlet pressure |
| Power Supply | 120 VAC ±10% 60 Hz or 220 VAC ±10% 50 Hz |
| Dimensions | 600 × 490 × 660 mm |
| Weight | 100 kg |
Overview
The Labthink C306H Infrared Sensor-Based Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Tester is a high-precision, six-chamber permeation analyzer engineered for quantitative determination of water vapor transmission through polymeric and laminated barrier materials. It operates on the principle of infrared absorption spectroscopy—where water vapor molecules traversing a test specimen are swept by ultra-dry nitrogen gas into an IR moisture sensor, generating optical signals proportional to vapor concentration. This non-destructive, non-consumable detection method ensures long-term sensor stability and eliminates recalibration drift associated with electrochemical or coulometric sensors. Designed in strict compliance with ASTM F1249 and ISO 15106-2, the system delivers trace-level sensitivity down to 0.02 g/(m²·day), making it suitable for evaluating ultra-high-barrier films used in pharmaceutical blister packaging, sterile medical device pouches, flexible OLED encapsulation, and photovoltaic backsheet materials.
Key Features
- Six independent test chambers—each with a standardized 50 cm² exposure area—enable concurrent evaluation of six specimens under identical environmental conditions, tripling throughput versus conventional single- or dual-chamber instruments.
- Patented IR moisture sensor with non-consumable architecture ensures >10-year operational life and intrinsic resistance to contamination, humidity saturation, or baseline drift.
- Rainbow Bridge™ test chamber design integrates 360° circumferential airflow and precision PID-controlled thermal management, achieving ±0.15 °C temperature uniformity across all six chambers.
- Integrated high-accuracy relative humidity sensors within each chamber continuously monitor and log local RH profiles, enabling real-time validation of gradient establishment per ASTM F1249 Section 7.3.
- Automated sample clamping mechanism applies consistent compressive force (±2 N), eliminating operator-induced seal variability and ensuring reproducible interfacial integrity between film and gasket.
- Embedded industrial-grade Windows-based computing platform (12″ capacitive touchscreen) runs Labthink’s proprietary PermeationSuite™ software—fully isolated from external network threats and immune to OS-level malware or driver conflicts.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The C306H accommodates rigid and flexible planar materials up to 3 mm thick, including monolayer plastics (PET, PP, PE), coextruded structures, metallized films (AlOx, SiOx), foil-laminates (Al/PET, Al/PE), paperboard composites, and elastomeric sheets (silicone, butyl rubber). Its mechanical design conforms to ISO 2528:2019 dimensional tolerances for test area definition and edge sealing. All measurement protocols adhere to regulatory expectations for analytical instrument qualification: IQ/OQ/PQ documentation templates are available; optional CFR 21 Part 11-compliant audit trail and electronic signature modules support GMP/GLP environments. Calibration traceability is maintained to NIST-traceable hygrometric standards, with annual verification procedures aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
Software & Data Management
PermeationSuite™ v5.2 provides full lifecycle data governance—from method setup (temperature, RH setpoints, flow rates, test duration) to real-time curve visualization, statistical analysis (mean, SD, RSD, confidence intervals), and automated report generation in PDF/A-1b or CSV formats. Raw sensor output (mV vs. time), chamber environmental logs (T, RH, flow), and calculated WVTR values are stored in encrypted SQLite databases with immutable timestamps. Optional DataShield™ module enforces role-based access control, automatic backup to NAS/SAN, and tamper-evident hashing (SHA-256) for forensic data integrity verification. Exported datasets include metadata compliant with ASTM E1447 and ISO 10012 for metrological traceability.
Applications
- Pharmaceutical packaging: Quantifying WVTR of cold-form blister lidding foils, sachet laminates, and desiccant-containing pouches per USP and YBB00092003-2015.
- Medical device sterilization: Validating barrier performance of Tyvek®-based pouches and peelable lids subjected to ethylene oxide or gamma sterilization cycles.
- Flexible electronics: Measuring moisture ingress rates through thin-film encapsulation layers in OLED lighting panels and foldable display substrates.
- Food packaging: Assessing shelf-life prediction models for retort pouches, vacuum-sealed meat trays, and modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) films.
- Renewable energy: Characterizing water vapor diffusion coefficients in PV backsheets (TPT, TPE) per IEC 61215-2 MQT10.
FAQ
What carrier gas is required, and why must it be ≥99.999% pure nitrogen?
Ultra-high-purity nitrogen serves as both the dry sweep gas (low-humidity side) and the humidity-gradient driver. Trace oxygen, hydrocarbons, or moisture impurities would interfere with IR absorption quantification and compromise detection limit accuracy.
Can the C306H perform tests at sub-ambient temperatures?
Standard configuration supports 15–50 °C; optional refrigerated chiller module extends range to 5 °C, enabling low-temperature barrier assessment relevant to frozen food or cryogenic pharmaceutical storage.
Is mask-based testing (e.g., 1 cm² or 5 cm²) validated per ASTM standards?
Yes—mask configurations maintain laminar flow geometry and boundary layer control per ASTM F1249 Annex A2; calibration curves are independently verified using NIST-traceable reference films.
How does the system ensure data integrity during extended multi-day tests?
Continuous power-loss recovery, write-once database architecture, and hardware-level watchdog timers prevent data corruption; all environmental parameters are logged at 1-second intervals with microsecond timestamp resolution.
Does Labthink provide installation qualification (IQ) support for regulated labs?
Yes—factory-trained field service engineers deliver on-site IQ/OQ execution, including chamber temperature mapping, RH gradient verification, flow rate calibration, and sensor linearity checks against certified standards.
