Oxidation by oxygen or water vapor is a unwanted process in many areas. Subject of this investigation is to identify and evaluate the factors which dominate the permeation of such substances through aluminized polymer thin films. The influence of defects present in the thin aluminum layer, mechanical deformation and the type of the permeating gas on the permeation rate is investigated. The microscopic analysis and numerical simulations lead to the conclusion that defects in the thin aluminum coating layer are dominating the permeation. For water vapor, indeed, additional permeation path must exist. It is shown that these paths can be grain boundaries. Summerizing, the results of this work ease further optimization of production and layout of such films and laminates leading to higher barrier properties.
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Oxidation by oxygen or water vapor is a unwanted process in many areas. Subject of this investigation is to identify and evaluate the factors which dominate the permeation of such substances through aluminized polymer thin films. The influence of defects present in the thin aluminum layer, mechanical deformation and the type of the permeating gas on the permeation rate is investigated. The microscopic analysis and numerical simulations lead to the conclusion that defects in the thin aluminum coa...
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