Significance and Use
The results of this test method will indicate the relative permeability by water vapor of the tape through its smallest dimension (generally normal to the tape's backing).
The pathway for the water vapor parallel to the adhesive-cup interface is great compared to the tape's thickness and the latter is usually the nearly exclusive source of transmitted vapor.
Some tape types allow a relatively free path in a direction normal to the backing or along backing pathways parallel to the adhesive-cup interface allowing the adhesive to become the principal barrier.
If the adhesive does not continue to adhere to the cup flange during the exposure periods allowing unintended pathways for water vapor to occur, the measurement should be considered as not having been made. Consequently, the tape might be considered as being inappropriate for use on surfaces like the cup flange under moisture conditions approximating those of the test.
Note 1—It may be that the interest is simply in the tape material as a water vapor barrier. In this case, how well the tape adheres to the cup flange may be of little consequence, and steps to prevent any edge effects are in order. These are referred to in Section 10.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers one procedure for measuring the water vapor transmission rate of pressure-sensitive tape.
1.2 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently, without combining values in any way.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 
The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
D3715/D3715M Practice for Quality Assurance of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process
Index Terms
pressure-sensitive tape; water vapor transmission: Cup flange; Pressure-sensitive tapes; Water vapor transmission (WVT); Permeability;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 55.040 (Packaging materials and accessories)
DOI: 10.1520/D3833_D3833M-96R11
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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