PermMate Versatile and patented method of Oxygen Permeation Analysis for packages, bottles and film The PermMate can also be used for headspace measurement, leak detection and shelf life determination. Bottle Tester Film Tester Applications Test laboratories Universities and Institutes Packaging manufacturers PET Bottle manufacturers Food & Beverage manufacturers Features & Benefits Oxygen permeability testing of Shelf life analysis using adhesive complete packages septas New patented concept of measuring Lower cost of ownership than optical / fluorescent quenching technique High test capacity, the instrument is able to handle an almost unlimited Data logging and traceability number of samples Versatile research and development Packages can be tested using a product wide variety of testing conditions e.g. temperature and humidity Requires no expensive consumables Ability to perform O2 headspace Automatic flushing and calculation of analysis volume Patented Method The PermMate utilizes a patented method No need for ‘Dot’ sensors to be attached which involves extracting a small amount of inside the package. gas at intervals until the rate of uptake of O2 is the same as the last test, then the test is No extra apparatus required. complete. No errors due to temperature dependence This method has particular advantage over of the fluorescence signal. optical/fluorescence quenching technique. The PermMate calculates the volume of the No operator calculations required. The container. PermMate computes direct measurements. No errors or calculation required due to batches of ‘dots’ having unique calibration Can be used on non-transparent and data. non-translucent packages. No errors due to mis-alignment of the fluorescence reader. Cost Effective Design The PermMate’s design enables the Real Life Test measurement of the oxygen ingress of the package and calculates the O2 transmission The PermMate provides the solution of rate. It can test numerous packages testing permeability of finished packages simultaneously. Comparable analysers are and is able to test the oxygen permeability often limited to 1 to 8 packages. In at different test conditions e.g temperature addition, it can determine volume, and humidity. The permeability and barrier headspace O2% measurements and qualities of a foil changes when it is shaped nitrogen flushing of packages. into a finished package. As a result, the shelf life of food products can be affected. Volume Test An additional feature of the PermMate is the Exact Measurement ability to determine the volume of the packages to be tested. This is an important The exact impact on the permeability can factor influencing the oxygen permeability be established thus resulting in better calculation of the package. knowledge about the shelf life of the product. Sample extraction can be as low Knowing the volume of the finished package as 3.5ml for each measurement. can be a valuable tool in monitoring the total gas consumption during production and can provide documentation of volume for transportation requirements. Easy to Use The PermMate system combines the It is also possible to store them in PermMate gas flush unit and a headspace gas environments to experience the full lifetime analyser to measure the Ambient Oxygen cycle of a package. Ingress rate of packages in controlled environments. The PermMate is controlled via the included simple to use PC software. After testing, the packages can be stored in controlled environments. AO2IR Measuring Principle If a package with a low internal oxygen content is left at ambient oxygen level (20.9%) for a period of time, the oxygen level inside the package will increase. If the package is leak free this increase will be due to the permeation through the material. This is known as the AO2IR (Ambient Oxygen Ingress Rate), and thus the permeation can be calculated. Measuring process Measuring the oxygen permeability of a package with the PermMate is a easy 6 step process*. Each step is automated and controlled by the PermMate and its user-friendly PC software. The user is guided through each step with the help of the software prompts. Create a new test sample. Determine the volume of the package, using the automatic volume detection function. (Optional) Flush the package with N2 automatically to the desired starting level e.g. 0.2% O2. Let the package stabilise in a temperature/humidity stable environment. Make at least two O2 content measurements in the package leaving the package in a stable environment between the measurements. Calculate the oxygen permeability of the package. * The number of steps may vary depending on the application. However, a typical test consists of 6 steps. R&D The PermMate is an important tool for all types of packaging research and development. The instrument is extremely versatile and can be used for a wide variety of temperature/relative humidity conditions. Typical usage includes: Packaging design - influence of material Ability to measure over a long period e.g. choices and thickness. weekly measurements for a year. Shelf life prediction. Work with multiple samples at the same time. Technical Specifications PermMate Description Dimensions 285W x 70H x 215D (mm) Weight 3kg Ingress Protection IP40 Power Requirements Power Supply 90-260 VAC, 50-60 Hz, Maximum 15W Package flushing Flow 330ml/min. approximate Lower flushing limit 0.03% O2 depending on supply gas Typical flushing time 8 minutes (Package of 1/2 litre PET bottle from 20.9% O2 to 1% O2) Gas Nitrogen 5.0 or similar. Maximum recommended O2 content 5 ppm. Package volume determination Accuracy Better than ±7.5% relative Permeability calculation Accuracy Better than ±7.5% relative Duration of permeability measurements Expected minimum time for a 1/2 litre package with an AO2IR (OTR) of 0.001 cc/package/day = 25 days Expected minimum time for a 1/2 litre package with an AO2IR (OTR) of 0.1 cc/package/day = 6 hours Headspace Analyser Sensor Type Oxygen 0 to 100%, Zirconia, solid state, ultra low volume Response time 3 seconds Accuracy: Oxygen 10 to 100% 0.2% absolute (max 2% of reading) and ±1 on the last digit. 1 to 9.99% 0.02% absolute (max 2% of reading) and ±1 on the last digit. 0 to 0.999% 0.005 % absolute and ±1 on the last digit. Range selection Automatic to 3 decimal places Oxygen: 0.001% to 99.9% Display type Wide angle 95mm x 55mm 4.5" High Resolution Touchscreen LCD Operating conditions Sample and ambient temperature: 5 to 40°C Sample connections Needle probe, can piercing station or direct syringe injection Alarms Programmable high/low limits for each measured gas, individual setting for up to 99 product, user and production line codes. Screen and printed display of high/low alarm conditions Internal datalog Stores over 1000 measurement results and alarm conditions Communications interfaces Serial computer interface for reports and data logging Auto diagnostic routine Initiated upon power up Auto-cal Auto calibration routine standard Auto pass/fail User programmable. Screen and printed display of alarm conditions Auto test sequencing Initiated by sample probe insertion into pack Power Requirements Mains power 90-260 Vac, ±10%,50/60Hz – Automatically sensed Options Bar code Reader Note: O2 and CO2 headspace analyser also available. Systech Illinois have over 25 years experience of providing analysis solutions for a wide range of industries. From our manufacturing plants in the UK and U.S we produce gas analysers for industrial process industries, headspace analysers for monitoring gas flushing of food products, and our range of permeation analysers. Systech Instruments Ltd (UK) Illinois Instruments, Inc (U.S) Illinois Instruments (Thailand) Systech Illinois (China) 17 Thame Park Business Centre, 2401 Hiller Ridge Road 6th fl Nopnarong Bldg No7 Room 519, No.3 FuCheng Building Wenman Road, Johnsburg, Illinois 60051 Ladprao23, Jatujak, Bangkok 10900 No. 900 Quyang Rd, Hongkou district, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3XA U.S.A Thailand Shanghai, China 200434 Tel: +44 (0)1844 216838 Tel: +1 815 344 6212 Tel: +66 (0)2938 0798 Tel: +86 21 65533022 Fax: +44 (0)1844 217220 Fax: +1 815 344 6332 Fax: +66 (0)2938 1058 Fax: +86 21 65539651 E-mail: advice@systech.co.uk E-mail: sales@illinoisinstruments.com E-mail: mai@illinoisinstruments.com Email: info@systechillinois.cn www.systechillinois.com www.systechillinois.com www.systechillinois.com www.systechillinois.cn Systech Illinois reserve the right to change specifications without notice. 11/2010