New results on the kinetic aspect of the permeation resistance of elastomers, using an original testing cell and methanol as model permeating fluid

This work describes a method developed to study the permeation of fluids through rubber membrane in a semiautomatic manner, in such a way that information regarding the complete process is obtained. Using this technique, several permeation parameters were assessed with fluoroelastomer and hydrogenated nitrile rubber membranes. A phenomenological model for the permeation process is proposed that includes two concomitant physical phenomena: the swelling of the membrane and the permeation itself. Simple mathematical relationships are derived from the experimental data, with the permeation rate as the key parameter.