Permeation Processes in Barriers and Membranes: Differences and Similarities, 1998 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Mass transport in and through polymer matrices primarily determine the efficacy of both barrier packaging and membrane separation devices. Typically, membranes and barrier packaging materials are at opposite ends of the transport spectrum, with the packaging engineer seeking to suppress permeation and the membrane engineer seeking to promote it selectively. In fact, as barrier applications become more sophisticated and involve the concepts of “modified atmosphere packaging”, permselective membranes and barriers assume increasingly similar natures. Emphasis will be placed on a physical understanding of the wide spectrum of issues that impact diffusion processes in and through totally amorphous glassy and rubbery polymers. Insight into the molecular and supermolecular factors favoring a given material or class of materials for different packaging applications will be discussed. Commercially available materials for key applications will be considered and compared to emerging homogenous materials with more complex morphologies.