Chemical Stability and Compatibility - Transpiration in polycarbonate vs. polypropylene sample tubes
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We have not studied transpiration rates for polycarbonate containers, and do not know how this material would compare to polypropylene. There is a fair amount of literature available from the packaging industry, where transpiration is frequently characterized as water vapor transmission rates (WVTR). Considering the size and geometry of the tubes our first thoughts were that the cap design and quality of the seal would be the most important factors. However, a quick internet search on the term “polycarbonate water vapor transmission rate” resulted in a physical properties table published by ThermoScientific that lists WVTR for different plastics. These data suggest that polycarbonate has a WVTR approximately 30 times greater than that of polypropylene, and this may offer a better explanation for your observations. |