Our instruments are regularly used to investigate molecular diffusion and sorption in polymers

The moisture sorption properties of many solid state materials, especially organic materials are critical for the characterisation of their drying and shelf life stability. In the past 10 years the DVS method invented by Surface Measurement Systems has become the standard laboratory method for studying drying and dehydration behaviour.

Application Note 07: Measurement of Diffusion of Liquids and Vapours Through Real Polymer Tube Packaging Devices
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Application Note 12: Absolute Measurement of Moisture Diffusion into Blister Packaging Systems | Request a copy

Most polymers and packaging materials can undergo significant interactions with solvents, in both liquid and gas phase environments. This can be reflected in significant levels of solvent dissolution when polymers are exposed to select vapours. The SEA instrument systems allows low levels of solvent dissolution in polymers to be readily studied and for solvent solubility to be measured.

Application Note 218: The Determination of the Hildebrandt Solubility Parameter of Polymethyl methacrylate by Infinite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography | Request a copy

The moisture sorption properties of polymers and packaging materials are critical to understanding their performance in the presence of moisture. The DVS method invented by Surface Measurement Systems has become the standard laboratory method for measuring water sorption isotherms of polymers and packaging materials, from barrier films all the way to blister packs, capsules and encapsulated products.

Application Note 07: Measurement of Diffusion of Liquids and Vapours Through Real Polymer Tube Packaging Devices
| Request a copy

Application Note 12: Absolute Measurement of Moisture Diffusion into Blister Packaging Systems | Request a copy

Application Note 39: Measuring Moisture Sorption and Diffusion Kinetics on Proton Exchange Membranes Using the DVS
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Application Note 49: Measuring Water Vapor Flux Across Model Proton Exchange Membranes | Request a copy

Amorphous polymers all exhibit a glass transition temperature, and for hydrophilic polymers these are highly sensitive to their moisture content. Both DVS and SEA instruments have proven to be very effective at studying the glass transition temperature of amorphous solids.

Application Note 35: Determining the Moisture-Induced Glass Transition in an Amorphous Pharmaceutical Material
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Application Note 204: Determination of the Glass Transition Temperatures Tg of Maltose and its dependence on Relative Humidity by Infinite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography | Request a copy

Studying molecular diffusion and permeability in polymers and packaging materials is central to understanding and optimising their performance. The DVS and SEA instruments allows such phenomena to be studied using a wide range of probe molecules including water, organic solvents and gases, depending upon the specific SMS instrument used. SMS instruments are ideal for obtaining both kinetic and equilibrium information on molecular diffusion and permeability in a wide range of materials.

Application Note 07: Measurement of Diffusion of Liquids and Vapours Through Real Polymer Tube Packaging Devices
| Request a copy

Application Note 12: Absolute Measurement of Moisture Diffusion into Blister Packaging Systems | Request a copy

Application Note 39: Measuring Moisture Sorption and Diffusion Kinetics on Proton Exchange Membranes Using DVS
| Request a copy

Application Note 49: Measuring Water Vapor Flux Across Model Proton Exchange Membranes | Request a copy

Application Note 206: Determination of Permeability Coefficients of Alkanes in Polyethylene Powder by Infinite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography
| Request a copy

The surface energy of powders, fibres or films is crucial to understanding how the interact with other liquids and solids. In the real world surface energy is critical to understanding problems such adhesion phenomena, wetting of films and frictional phenomena. The SEA instrument is ideal for measuring the surface energy of films and other packaging materials.