A comparative study of oxygen Permeabilities of film-forming polymers by quenching of platinum porphyrin phosphorescence

Oxygen permeabilities of different polymers were determined by using two different methods based on quenching of an excited phosphorescent dye by oxygen. In the first method, the phosphorescent dye platinum octaethylporphyrin is directly dissolved in the polymer film of interest whereas in the second method a sensor film is used which is separated from the film of interest by a spacer. The polymers investigated are PMMA, PVC, PVAc, cellulose acetate, PEMA, and PS. The resulting oxygen permeability coefficients are compared with data reported in the literature. It was found that oxygen permeation strongly depends on the protocol of preparation and thermal history of the films.