Water Vapor Transmission Through Fabrics

Property:
Water vapor permeability of fabrics

Method:
ASTM E 96 "Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials" (upright or inverted cup water methods)

Instrument:
Wind tunnel of cups in an environmental chamber

Specimen number and size: Nine 3 inch diameter circles

Cost:
$300 per fabric type (3 reps) (Minimum of 3 fabrics to run)

Property:
Water vapor transmission rate of fabrics

Method:
ISO 15496 “Textiles—Measurement of Water Vapor Permeability of Textiles for the Purpose of Quality Control”

Instrument:
Specimen holder in a water bath

Specimen number and size: Three 7.5 inch diameter circles

Cost:
$300 per fabric type (3 reps) (Minimum of 3 fabrics to run)

Property:
Water vapor diffusion resistance of fabrics and water vapor transmission rate of fabrics – with or without an air pressure gradient across the specimen

Method:
ASTM F 2298 “Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Diffusion Resistance and Air Flow Resistance of Clothing Materials Using a Dynamic Moisture Permeation Cell”

Instrument:
Dynamic Moisture Permeation Cell (DMPC)

Specimen number and size: Three 5 x 2 inch rectangles

Cost:
$300 per fabric type (3 reps) per humidity condition
Standard humidity gradient: 5/95%

50% gradient at different levels: 5/55%, 15/65%, 25/75%, 35/85%, 45/95% Unique protocols are possible also.

©2006 Institute for Environmental Research