ISO 15105-1 Gas transmission rate test of plastics Film by differential-pressure method

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ISO 15105-1 Gas Transmission Rate Tester | Differential Pressure Barrier Test Machine | UnitedTest

UnitedTest manufactures professional ISO 15105-1 compliant gas transmission rate testers designed for accurate barrier performance testing of plastic film and sheeting materials.

ISO 15105-1 Plastics — Film and Sheeting — Determination of Gas-transmission Rate — Part 1: Differential-pressure Methods specifies two authoritative standardized differential-pressure test methods. This international standard precisely evaluates the gas barrier properties of plastic films, plastic sheets, and multi-layer plastic structures. It accurately measures the Gas Transmission Rate (GTR) and Gas Permeability Coefficient (P) by maintaining a stable gas partial pressure difference across the test specimen.

Ideal for packaging quality control, material R&D, and laboratory compliance testing, our differential pressure gas barrier tester fully adheres to ISO 15105-1 test protocols, delivering stable and repeatable gas permeability test results for industrial plastic packaging materials.

Test Principle

All differential-pressure testing follows the identical physical principle:

The specimen is clamped airtight between two isolated chambers, forming a gas barrier partition.

Both high-pressure and low-pressure chambers are fully evacuated sequentially (low-pressure chamber evacuated first to attach the film tightly to filter paper support).

Pure test gas is filled into the upstream high-pressure chamber to form a stable partial pressure difference across the specimen.

Gas diffuses through the plastic matrix into the downstream low-pressure chamber.

ISO 15105-1 Gas transmission rate test of plastics Film by differential-pressure method

Permeated gas volume is quantified via two distinct detection paths:

Pressure sensor method: Record continuous pressure increase rate (dp/dt) in the low-pressure chamber.

Gas Chromatograph (GC) method: Periodically trap permeated gas in a sampling loop, inject into GC, and calculate gas volume from pre-established calibration curves.

Steady-state permeation data is used to compute GTR and permeability coefficient P.

Two Specific Test Methods

Method A: Pressure Sensor Method

Universal method applicable to all plastic materials, using a high-sensitivity pressure sensor to track pressure rise in the low-pressure chamber caused by permeated gas.

Method B: Gas Chromatograph (GC) Method

Optimized for mixed gas systems; separates and quantifies individual gas components via gas chromatography, enabling independent GTR calculation for each gas fraction in gas mixtures.

Test Specimen Requirements

Size: Larger than the cell’s effective permeation area to ensure full sealing.

Quantity: Minimum 3 identical specimens unless agreed otherwise by all parties.

Test Equipment of ISO 15105-1 Gas transmission rate test of plastics Film by differential-pressure method

Equipment for Pressure Sensor Method

Recommend UnitedTest Gas Permeability Tester - Gas Permeation Analyzer;

High-sensitivity pressure sensor: Minimum resolution 5 Pa (0.038 mmHg); electronic diaphragm sensor or mercury-free vacuum gauge.

Gas feeder reservoir with manometer (sensitivity ≥100 Pa): Maintains constant upstream pressure (~1 atm).

Cell volume-control device (auxiliary reservoir/adapter): Adjusts low-side chamber volume to expand measurable permeability range.

Equipment for GC Method

Gas chromatograph with dedicated separation columns for target gas species.

Sampling loop, multi-way switching valves, test gas pressure controller.

Data integrator: Calculates chromatogram peak area to quantify permeated gas volume.

Other device for both methods

Gas transmission cell: Split into high-pressure (upstream) chamber and low-pressure (downstream) chamber;

gas permeation area diameter ranges 10mm–150mm, flat smooth sealing surfaces to eliminate leakage.

Vacuum pump: Must generate vacuum below 10 Pa (0.075 mmHg) in the low-pressure chamber.

Test gas supply system: Test gas purity ≥99.5 vol%; carrier gas (GC method) ≥99.99 vol%.

Filter paper (0.2–0.3 mm thick analytical filter paper): Supports thin film specimens in the low-pressure cavity.

Vacuum grease, rubber sealing rings: For airtight clamping of specimens.

Standard Test Parameters

Gas Pressure

Upstream high-pressure chamber: Stabilized near 1 standard atmosphere (101325 Pa).

Initial downstream vacuum: Better than 10 Pa residual pressure.

Gas Specifications

Single test gas: Purity ≥99.5 vol%.

GC carrier gas: Ultra-high purity ≥99.99 vol%.

Calculation Metrics & Units

Gas Transmission Rate (GTR)

Definition: Gas volume passing through unit material area per unit time under unit partial pressure difference, unit: mol/(m²·s·Pa); industrial conventional unit: cm³/(m²·24 h·atm).

Gas Permeability Coefficient (P)

Definition: P = GTR × d (d = average specimen thickness in meters), unit: mol·m/(m²·s·Pa); industrial conventional unit: cm³·mm/(m²·24 h·atm).

Key Test Stipulations

Leakage verification: If low-side pressure rises after full evacuation, re-clamp the specimen and re-evacuate to eliminate air leakage.

Steady-state requirement: Testing continues until permeation signal forms a linear stable curve (pressure sensor) or repeated GC readings show consistent permeated gas volume.

Blank correction (GC method): Conduct blank sampling to deduct background residual gas volume (Vb) from measured permeated gas (Vs).

Precision limitation: The standard states no interlaboratory precision data available at release; precision clauses will be added in future revisions.

Industrial Application Fields

This standard is the core barrier testing specification for plastic film and sheet industries, covering:

Food flexible packaging: Multilayer food laminates, oxygen barrier films for meat, snacks, baked goods (controls oxygen transmission to extend shelf life).

Pharmaceutical packaging: Medical blister films, drug barrier packaging (prevents oxidative degradation of active pharmaceutical ingredients).

Electronics packaging: Moisture/gas barrier films for semiconductor components, anti-oxidation wrapping.

Agricultural plastic films: Greenhouse films, crop silage barrier sheets.

Cosmetic & chemical packaging: Barrier films for volatile essential oils, solvent-containing products.

New energy materials: Plastic barrier membranes for battery packaging.

Significance of ISO 15105-1 Testing for Plastic Materials

Quantify core barrier performance

GTR and permeability coefficient are intrinsic material barrier fingerprints. The test objectively measures how easily oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or other gases penetrate plastic films, supporting material grading and new resin formulation development.

Packaging shelf-life prediction

For food, pharma and chemical products, excessive gas permeation triggers oxidation, microbial spoilage, active ingredient degradation, or volatile loss. Standardized ISO 15105-1 data enables accurate shelf-life simulation and package structure optimization (e.g., selecting multi-layer coextrusion or coated barrier films).

Global manufacturing quality control & compliance

As a globally recognized ISO standard, test results are accepted cross-border for raw material incoming inspection, finished product factory release testing, and third-party certification audits, unifying evaluation criteria across supply chains.

Support material innovation & process optimization

The two test methods adapt to single-layer, co-extruded, laminated, coated plastic structures. Manufacturers use test data to adjust film thickness, polymer orientation, crystallinity, and barrier coating processes to reduce gas transmission and lower production costs.

Unified laboratory comparability

Standardized specimen preparation, conditioning, equipment requirements and calculation formulas eliminate data deviation between different labs, ensuring consistent, repeatable test results for technical communication and dispute resolution.

Related Test Standard:

ISO 15105-1	Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of gas-transmission rate - Part 1: Differential-pressure methods
ISO 15105-2	Part 2 – Equal-pressure method. adopting carrier gas equal-pressure principle instead of differential vacuum; complementary testing route for gas permeability measurement.
GB/T 1038.1	Plastics—Film and sheeting—Determination of gas-transmission rate—Part 1:Differential-pressure methods
ISO 2556	Plastics - Determination of the gas transmission rate of films and thin sheets under atmospheric pressure - Manometric method
ASTM D1434	Standard Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting
JIS K 7126-1	Plastics -- Film and sheeting -- Determination of gas-transmission rate -- Part 1: Differential-pressure method
DIN 53380-1	Testing of plastics - Determination of gas transmissions rate - Part 1: Volumetrical method for testing of plastic films
ISO 2782-1	Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of permeability to gases — Part 1: Differential-pressure methods

Keywords: UnitedTest ISO 15105-1 tester, ISO 15105-1 gas transmission rate tester, differential pressure gas barrier test machine, plastic film gas permeability coefficient tester, ISO 15105-1 differential pressure gas transmission testing, multi-layer plastic structure GTR barrier test, controlled partial pressure gas permeability measurement, plastic film sheeting gas barrier performance tester, industrial packaging material gas transmission rate QC equipment

Gas Permeability Tester is a multi-functional lab instrument dedicated to gas barrier performance testing, gas transmission rate (GTR). Conform to ISO 15105-1, ISO 2556, ASTM D1434, Widely adopted as standard QC testing equipment for flexible packaging, plastic manufacturing and new energy sectors.

Adopts advanced electrochemical coulometric detection method for accurate, time-efficient oxygen transmission rate analysis for medium and high barrier packaging materials. Conform with ISO 15105-2, ASTM D3985. Key testing indicators Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR), oxygen volume passing through.

Q1: What is the core purpose of ISO 15105-1?

A1: This international standard defines two differential-pressure test methods to measure Gas Transmission Rate (GTR) and gas permeability coefficient (P) of single-layer and multi-layer plastic films and sheets. It evaluates the gas barrier property of plastic materials by creating a stable gas pressure difference across test specimens.

Q2: What two test methods are specified in ISO 15105-1? What are their differences?

A2: Annex A (Pressure Sensor Method): Universal for all plastics. It tracks pressure rise in the low-pressure chamber via a pressure sensor to calculate permeated gas volume; suitable for single pure gases (oxygen, nitrogen, CO₂).

Annex B (Gas Chromatograph GC Method): Optimized for mixed gas systems. It separates different gas components through chromatography and measures individual GTR values for each gas fraction.

Q3: What materials does ISO 15105-1 apply to? What materials are excluded?

A3: Applicable: Single-layer plastic film/sheet, coextruded films, laminated multi-layer barrier structures, coated plastic films.

Not applicable: Rigid thick plastic blocks, porous foams with open cells, non-polymer inorganic sheets (glass, metal foil alone).

Q4: How many test specimens are required for a full ISO 15105-1 test?

A4: A minimum of 3 identical specimens is mandatory unless all involved parties sign a mutual agreement to use fewer samples.

Q5: Why must we mark which side of the specimen faces the high-pressure test gas?

A5: Many plastic films (coated, laminated, oriented films) have asymmetric barrier performance. Marking replicates real service conditions (e.g., food packaging inner vs outer surface) and avoids biased, inaccurate GTR results caused by reversed gas permeation direction.

Q6: What thickness measurement rules does ISO 15105-1 require?

A6: Thickness must be tested per ISO 4593 mechanical scanning method. Measure at least 5 evenly distributed points across the permeation area, record minimum, maximum and average thickness, with precision to 1 μm. Average thickness is used to calculate permeability coefficient P.

Q7: Do all plastic specimens need pre-drying/conditioning before testing?

A7: Pressure sensor method: Hygroscopic plastics require ≥48 h drying at test temperature with calcium chloride desiccants; non-hygroscopic plastics can skip drying.

GC method: All specimens need conditioning at target test temperature and humidity for material-specific equilibrium time to eliminate moisture interference.

Q8: What is the valid range of the gas permeation area diameter on the test cell?

A8: The cell’s permeation diameter must be between 10 mm and 150 mm to ensure stable, repeatable test data.

Q9: What vacuum performance does the vacuum pump need to meet?

A9: The pump must achieve a vacuum lower than 10 Pa (0.075 mmHg) in the low-pressure chamber to eliminate residual air interference during permeation measurement.

Q10: What is the difference between GTR and gas permeability coefficient P?

A10: GTR (Gas Transmission Rate): Gas volume passing through unit film area per unit time under unit pressure difference; reflects bulk barrier performance of the finished film.

Permeability coefficient P = GTR × average thickness (d). It is an intrinsic material property independent of film thickness, used to compare polymer resin barrier performance directly.

Q11: How should final test results be expressed and rounded?

A11: Calculate the arithmetic mean of all specimen results, then round the value to three significant figures for formal reporting.

Q12: Why do we wait until steady state before recording test data?

A12: At the initial stage, gas absorption by the plastic matrix causes unstable permeation flow. Steady state means the gas penetration rate becomes constant (linear pressure rise for sensor method, consistent GC peak areas for GC method), which guarantees accurate, reproducible GTR calculation.

Q13: What is blank correction in the GC method, and why is it required?

A13: Blank run measures residual background gas trapped in the sampling loop under steady testing conditions. We subtract blank volume (Vb) from total collected gas volume (Vs) to remove environmental and instrument background interference and avoid overestimating GTR values.

Q14: What purity standard must test gas and carrier gas meet?

A14: Single test gas purity ≥99.5 vol%; GC carrier gas purity preferably ≥99.99 vol%. Lower purity gas will introduce impurity interference and distort test results without prior mutual consent.

Q15. Is this test destructive?

A15: Yes. Once the film has been clamped, subjected to vacuum, and stressed by the pressure differential, it cannot be reused for another test or returned to the production line. However, the amount of material consumed (a small disc) is minimal compared to the value of the data obtained.

Q16: The low-pressure chamber pressure rises rapidly after full evacuation before injecting test gas. What is the root cause?

A16: Air leakage exists in the test cell assembly. Check uneven vacuum grease coating, damaged rubber sealing rings, wrinkled test specimens, or loose cell clamping. Re-seal and re-evacuate the cell until no spontaneous pressure rise occurs.

Q17: Can I use only one specimen instead of three for accelerated factory QC testing?

A17: No, three specimens are normative requirements. Fewer specimens are allowed only when all customer, supplier and testing lab parties reach a written mutual agreement. The test report must record this exception.

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