AMETEK MOCON, a leading global provider of permeation analyzers, package testing instruments, and gas controllers/sensors, has launched a new analytical instrument to measure the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of whole packages under precisely-controlled environmental conditions.AMETEK MOCON, a leading global provider of permeation analyzers, package testing instruments, and gas controllers/sensors, has launched a new analytical instrument to measure the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of whole packages under precisely-controlled environmental conditions.
Called the AQUATRAN 3/40, the new analyzer targets package permeation testing in the food, beverage, and healthcare packaging application space, where knowing the precise moisture vapor transmitting through a package
is critical to a product’s shelf life. Applications for the AQUATRAN 3/40 include permeation testing of formed
trays, bottles, flexible pouches, corks, caps, and more.
Historically, testing the water vapor permeation of whole packages either suffered from poor control of the test
gas conditions (with messy bagged ambient set-ups), or required a cumbersome set up of an environmental
chamber that resulted in lengthy tubing and condensation issues. Adding to the complexity of legacy package
permeation testing were the messy epoxy adhesives used to prepare the samples. These adhesives were difficult
to apply and remove from the sample holder between each analysis.
“With the new AQUATRAN 3/40, whole packages can now be easily tested for WVTR values at controlled humidity
and temperature conditions,” explains Jeff Jackson, Senior Product Manager, AMETEK MOCON. “Samples are
changed easily with either disposable foil mounting or by using application-specific cartridges that require no
epoxy at all. The chamber is large enough to accommodate and simultaneously test four large packages, each
about the size of a 3-liter soda bottle. Add to this our next-generation software platform with automated controls
and a simple touchscreen display, and you have a permeation instrument that is finally designed for efficient,
accurate WVTR package testing.”
The AQUATRAN 3/40 utilizes MOCON’s industry-standard modulated IR sensor and complies with ASTM F1249 for
WVTR measurements.
