Oxygen and Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement Systems

This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by the University of Ottawa (the “University”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for an Oxygen Transmission Rate Measurement and Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement Systems, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund. Prospective proponents must be able to supply both systems.

THE DELIVERABLES
The proposed equipments are an Oxygen Transmission Rate Measurement System and a Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement System.  

Oxygen Transmission Rate Measurement System:
Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) measurement is to quantify the rate at which oxygen permeates through target materials, typically thin polymeric film, containers, and membranes. This is a critical method in academics and industries such as textile, pharmaceuticals, nanocellulose, food, and health and safety-related wearable applications, maintaining object integrity and extending lifetime under a given environmental condition.

The requested equipment is an advanced Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) measurment system to support our research and development in functional thin film analysis. This equipment will enable us to accurately assess the oxygen permeability of various thin films, including polymer, nanocellulose, and ultrathin metallic films, providing critical analysis to understand the interface between multi-stack films in the then-nanometer range. Significantly, the center for Hybrid Interfaces and Intelligent Thin-Films (HIIT) is a partnership between academia and industry to bring transformational advances in hybrid thin films and devices and convergence with more established technologies such as bulk semiconductors. Both uOttawa and industrial partners will benefit from OTR measurement, where controlling oxygen permeation is critical to maintaining product integrity, ensuring that we can optimize and develop materials that provide ideal barrier properties against a given environmental condition. With growing environmental concerns, ORT measurement will help us establish eco-friendly packaging materials that balance required oxygen barrier performance with sustainability.

Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement System:
A water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) measurement system evaluates the rate at which water vapor permeates through a material, especially films or membranes, under temprature and humidity conditions. This measurement is essential for materials used in packaging, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, and  moisure barrier properties are critical to maintaining the integrity and lifetime of devices.

The requested equipment is a precise water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) measurement. This system is for testing the permeability of materials to water vapour. WVTR measurement is critical for engineering fields, including electronics, packaging, and pharmaceuticals, where controlling moisture levels is essential for thin film quality, safety, and longevity. WVTR system will provide accurate, reliable, and repeatable testing results, ensuring that deposited films meet required standards and performance criteria, which is well aligned with the objectives of Center for Hybrid Interfaces and Intelligent Thin-Films (HIIT) objectives. Understanding the interactions between thin films of various hybrid materials, such as organic-inorganic, organic-metal, and high throughput, low-cost, and low-power consumption roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing approaches will offer Canada and the world revolutionary innovations in technology that will bring tremendous positive economic, health, social, and environmental impacts. Innovations include; (i) the realization of low-cost intelligent labels that detect water permeation through the film, (ii) biometric sensors integrated into textiles that can identify disease in human sweat for early detection and prevention, and more. Under this scope, measuring the water permeation through thin films, interfaces, and packaging is essential to HIIT research.

Mandatory Technical Requirements - Oxygen Transmission Rate Measurement System:

1.0 - Oxygen Transmission Rate Measurement System
1.1 - The instrument must comply with international standards, such as ASTM, ISO, or equivalent standards.
1.2 - The instrument must have an automatic calibration protocol with NIST-traceable calibration standards or equipped with automatic calibration sensors.
1.3 - The instrument must provide capabilities to test variety of samples including but not limited to thin films, polymers, textiles, and papers
1.4 - The instrument must have an ultra-high barrier testing capability for oxygen permeation by a detector based on coulometric sensing (Faraday Law operation principles).
1.5 - The instrument must be capable to operate in a higher temperature than 30oC.
1.6 - The operating temperature range must have an error (fluctuation) of no more than ±1oC.
1.7 - The machine must allow for fully automated testing, including vacuum/purging, excluding sample loading.
1.8 - The instrument must allow the measurement of samples having an area ranging from 5 cm2 to 30 cm2.
1.9 - The instrument must provide no less than 2 cells per cartridge.
1.10 - The test range on the large samples (30 cm2 or larger) must be better than 0.005 -150 (cc/m2.day), and 0.05-1000 (cc/m2.day) for the smallest samples.
1.11 - The resolution of the instrument must be better than 0.0005 cc/(m2.day)
1.12 - The repeatability of the instrument must be better than 0.005 cc/(m2.day) or 98%.
1.13 - The instrument must be bench top and dimensions should  not to exceed 1 m (H) x 1 m (W) x 0.75 m (D) and cannot weigh more than 100 kg.

2.0 - Connected accessories
2.1 - If an external vacuum pump is needed, it must be capable of achieving less than 2 Torr and included with the system.

3.0 - Warranty, Installation, and Training
3.1 - Must include 1-year standard manufacturer’s warranty and technical support (on-site, emails and phone calls).
3.2 - Must include on-site installation and training. Supplier must agree to video-recording of the training session(s) for the purpose of future users’ trainings.

Mandatory Technical Requirements - Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement System:

1.0 - Water Vapour Transmission Rate Measurement System
1.1 - The machine must comply with international standards, such as ASTM, ISO, or equivalent standards
1.2 - The machine must have an automatic calibration protocol with NIST-traceable calibration standards or equipped with automatic calibration sensors.
1.3 - The instrument must provide capabilities to test variety of samples including but not limited to thin films, polymers, textiles, and papers.
1.4 - The instrument must be capable to operate in a higher temperature than 30oC
1.5 - The operating temperature range must have an error (fluctuation) of no more than ±5oC.
1.6 - The carrier gas for the instrument must be dry nitrogen.
1.7 - The instrument must accommodate sample dimensions varying in area from 5 cm2 to 30 cm2. Larger sample test capability is acceptable.
1.8 - The instrument must provide no less than 2 cells per analyzer, and a separate film cartridge
1.9 - The resolution of the instrument for large samples must be better than 0.005-1 g/m2/day
1.10 - The resolution of the instrument for smaller samples must be better than 0.0005 g/m2/day
1.11 - The instrument must be bench top and dimensions should not exceed 1 m (H) x 1 m(W) x 0.75 m(D), and cannot weigh more than 100 kg
1.12 - The instrument must come with a real-time data logging software with data export capabilities at least one of CSV, Excel, PDF, and TXT formats.

2.0 - Connected accessories
2.1 - If an external vacuum pump is needed, it must be capable of achieving less than 2 Torr and included with the system.

3.0 - Warranty, Installation, and Training
3.1 - Must include 1-year standard manufacturer’s warranty and technical support (on-site, emails and phone calls).
3.2 - Must include on-site installation and training. Supplier must agree to video-recording of the training session(s) for the purpose of future users’ trainings.



 

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