Hydrocarbons are exceptionally good at leaking or 'permeating' through materials. Indeed this is the basis for using polymer membranes in applications such as fuel cells or removing higher hydrocarbons from natural gas streams. It is also the reason for the extensive testing of hydrocarbon barriers such as geo-membranes.
Versaperm has developed the use of an extensive range of specialist sensors for measuring hydrocarbon (and other) permeability across a huge diversity of applications based on a variety of sensor types.
Sensors include flame ionisation, catalytic combustion, infrared, photoionization, mass spectrometry, capacitive, coulometric, electrochemical, electrolytic, gas chromatography, impedance, infrared, paramagnetic, pressure measurements semiconductor and thermal conductivity.
Thanks to Versaperm's latest equipment developments, measuring hydrocarbon membrane permeability has become fast, accurate and easy. In some cases measurements can now be produced in as little as 30 minutes, as opposed to the days or weeks with conventional gravimetric testing.
Versaperm's hydrocarbon permeability meters achieve accuracies typically in the parts per million range, (parts per billion with some gasses). The system is ideal for use on most materials, membranes, containers, films, laminates, coatings and components. It is suitable for QC, lab and development work.
As well as manufacturing the instruments, Versaperm offers a permeability laboratory service for companies that need to test samples on an irregular basis.
For more information, visit www.versaperm.com
