Mocon PERMATRAN-W® Model 3/34 Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Tester
| Brand | Mocon |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Model | PERMATRAN-W® Model 3/34 |
| Test Range (Film) | 0.005–100 g/(m²·day) |
| Resolution | 0.001 g/(m²·day) |
| Repeatability | ±0.005 g/(m²·day) or ±2% |
| Temperature Range | 10–40 °C (±0.2 °C) |
| Humidity Range | 5–90% RH, up to 100% RH |
| Test Chamber | Dual 50 cm² chambers |
| Sample Size (Film) | 10.8 × 10.8 cm |
| Package Capacity | Up to 3 L |
| Compliance | ASTM F1249, ISO 15106-2, JIS K7129, TAPPI T557, GB/T 26253–2010, GB/T 31355–2014, YBB00092003–2015 |
Overview
The Mocon PERMATRAN-W® Model 3/34 is a high-precision, dual-chamber water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) tester engineered for quantitative barrier performance evaluation of flexible packaging films, laminates, coated substrates, and rigid or semi-rigid packages. It operates on the modulated coulometric detection principle: water vapor permeating through a test specimen is carried by a dry carrier gas (typically nitrogen) into a proprietary coulometric sensor, where moisture is electrolytically split into hydrogen and oxygen; the resulting current is linearly proportional to the mass flow of water vapor, enabling trace-level quantification down to 0.005 g/(m²·day). Designed for regulated environments—including pharmaceutical primary packaging, sterile medical device pouches, and shelf-life-critical food packaging—the instrument delivers NIST-traceable measurement integrity and supports full auditability under GLP, GMP, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (with optional software configuration). Its architecture integrates environmental control, gas delivery, signal processing, and data management into a single self-contained unit with embedded computing and touchscreen interface.
Key Features
- Dual independent 50 cm² test chambers enable parallel or comparative testing—reducing throughput time without compromising inter-chamber isolation.
- TruSeal™ dynamic nitrogen curtain sealing technology actively purges the chamber periphery with dry nitrogen, eliminating ambient moisture intrusion and ensuring measurement fidelity at ultra-low WVTR levels (<0.01 g/(m²·day)).
- Full automation of temperature (10–40 °C, ±0.2 °C), relative humidity (5–90% RH, extendable to 100% RH), carrier gas pressure, and volumetric flow—eliminating manual calibration drift and operator-dependent variability.
- Intelligent equilibrium detection algorithm autonomously determines endpoint stability based on real-time sensor response slope and variance thresholds—no user-defined “wait time” required.
- Pneumatically actuated horizontal sample clamping ensures uniform contact pressure and rapid, repeatable loading—critical for low-permeability materials prone to edge leakage artifacts.
- Onboard touchscreen HMI with intuitive workflow navigation; remote operation supported via Ethernet or USB using PermNet® Lite software (optional).
- Integrated calendar, automatic data timestamping, and built-in storage for ≥100 complete test records—including raw sensor traces, environmental logs, and pass/fail flags.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The PERMATRAN-W® Model 3/34 accommodates flat film specimens (10.8 × 10.8 cm) and package formats up to 3 L volume using an optional package test conversion kit. Its coulometric sensor exhibits linear response across the full specified range (0.005–100 g/(m²·day) for films; 0.000025–0.5 g/(pkg·day) for containers), with certified repeatability of ±0.005 g/(m²·day) or ±2%, whichever is greater. The system meets or exceeds requirements of major international standards: ASTM F1249 (infrared detection correlation validated), ISO 15106-2 (coulometric method), JIS K7129, TAPPI T557, and Chinese national standards GB/T 26253–2010 (films) and GB/T 31355–2014 (packages). Optional IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages support equipment qualification in regulated manufacturing sites. When configured with PermNet® Lite and audit trail logging, the system satisfies FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record and signature requirements.
Software & Data Management
Embedded firmware manages all instrument functions—including environmental ramping, gas sequencing, sensor zeroing, and equilibrium assessment—without external PC dependency. Test data are stored locally in CSV and XML formats, with automatic generation of summary reports containing WVTR value, confidence interval, environmental setpoints, and pass/fail status against user-defined limits. PermNet® Lite (optional) extends functionality to multi-instrument fleet monitoring, centralized database archiving, SPC charting, and automated PDF report generation. All data files include embedded metadata: operator ID, instrument serial number, calibration certificate ID, and NIST-traceable sensor verification date. Remote diagnostics via secure HTTPS tunnel allow Mocon-certified engineers to perform health checks, firmware updates, and sensor validation without onsite visits.
Applications
This instrument serves as a reference-grade metrology tool in R&D labs developing high-barrier coatings (e.g., SiOx, AlOx, multilayer EVOH), quality control laboratories validating incoming film lots for blister packaging or pouch lamination, and regulatory submission teams generating stability data for FDA IND/NDA dossiers. It is routinely deployed for accelerated aging studies correlating WVTR with product degradation kinetics, evaluating seal integrity of cold-form foil blisters, and benchmarking vapor barrier performance of biodegradable polymers against PET or metallized PP. In medical device manufacturing, it supports ISO 11607-1 compliance verification for sterile barrier systems, particularly for implantable devices requiring ≤0.01 g/(m²·day) moisture ingress limits.
FAQ
Does the PERMATRAN-W® Model 3/34 require external chillers or refrigerants?
No. Unlike condensation-based sensors, the coulometric detector operates at ambient temperature and requires no cryogenic cooling or recirculating chillers—reducing infrastructure dependencies and maintenance overhead.
Can the instrument test both flat films and filled packages without hardware modification?
Flat film testing uses the standard dual-chamber configuration. Package testing requires the optional Package Test Conversion Kit (PCK), which replaces the film clamp assembly with a sealed test head and volumetric compensation module.
How is sensor longevity ensured at ultra-low WVTR levels?
The coulometric cell incorporates over-moisture protection circuitry and adaptive current limiting. Combined with TruSeal™ edge purge, this extends typical sensor service life to ≥24 months under routine use at <0.05 g/(m²·day).
Is manual zeroing required before each test?
No. The system performs automatic baseline correction during carrier gas purge cycles. For film tests, zeroing occurs dynamically prior to exposure—eliminating separate pre-test zero steps.
What level of environmental control accuracy is maintained during extended multi-condition testing?
Temperature is stabilized to ±0.2 °C across the full 10–40 °C range; humidity control maintains ±1% RH accuracy from 5–90% RH, verified hourly via integrated capacitive hygrometer with NIST-traceable calibration.
