Chamber, gas permeability measuring device, and gas permeability measuring method.

Abstract

To provide a novel chamber capable of supplying gas to a hollow part inside which a sample is provided while keeping the hollow part airtight against the external atmosphere.SOLUTION: A chamber (1) for fixing a sample (30) equipped with a hollow part (33) includes a fixing part (20). In the fixing part (20), a peripheral edge part of a jig opening part (25) of an in-sample jig (22) arranged inside the hollow part (33) and the peripheral edge part of a chamber opening part (24) are fastened by a fastening part (23) and the peripheral edge part of a sample opening part (32) provided in a sample (30) is clamped, whereby gas is introduced into the hollow part (33), and the gas introduced into the hollow part (33) is recovered in the chamber interior (10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chamber, a gas permeability measuring device, and a gas permeability measuring method. [Background technology]

[0002] There has been a demand for a method to evaluate the permeability of thin-film samples to atmospheric components such as water vapor and oxygen. In recent years, there has been a demand for a method to measure the gas permeability from the outside to the inside of samples having a three-dimensional shape such as packaging containers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a gas permeability measuring jig that measures the gas permeability of a container by attaching the gas permeability measuring jig, with two pipes passing through it, to the opening of the container, introducing gas through one pipe, recovering the gas inside the container through the other pipe, and measuring the components contained in the recovered gas. In the gas permeability measuring jig described in Patent Document 1, the two pipes are fixed with an adhesive.

[0004] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 2 describes a method for measuring gas permeability in which a laminate film in which multiple films each including a gas barrier layer and a resin layer are laminated together with a portion of the resin layer that is bonded to separate a first space from a second space, and the method includes a step of measuring the target component that has migrated from the first space to the second space.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 3 describes a gas permeation cell including a sheet-like first sealing portion that seals between a first gas chamber and a film sample when a first surface of the film sample is exposed to a first gas, a sheet-like second sealing portion that seals between a second gas chamber and the film sample when a second surface opposite to the first surface of the film sample is exposed to a second gas, and a clamping portion that pressurizes the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion in a direction perpendicular to the film sample. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-267826 [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-134144 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2013-3029 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the method using the jig described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that adhesive components are mixed into the collected gas. Also, the gas permeation cells described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 have a problem in that they cannot fix a hollow sample so as to supply gas to the hollow part of the sample while maintaining airtightness against the outside air.

[0008] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel chamber and related technology that can supply gas to a hollow space inside a sample while maintaining the hollow space airtight against the external atmosphere. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention is a chamber for fixing a sample having a hollow portion, the chamber comprising: a fixing portion for fixing a sample opening provided in the sample; and a chamber opening for introducing gas into the hollow portion through the sample opening and recovering the gas introduced into the hollow portion into the chamber; the fixing portion comprises a jig opening communicating with the sample opening and the chamber opening, a sample internal jig arranged inside the hollow portion, and a clamping portion for clamping the periphery of the sample opening by the periphery of the jig opening and the periphery of the chamber opening. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel chamber and related technology that can supply gas to a hollow space inside a sample while maintaining the hollow space airtight against the external atmosphere. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a fixing part 20 provided in a chamber 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a chamber 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a jig fixing part 21 provided in a chamber 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a sample internal fixture 22 provided in a chamber 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a gas permeability measuring device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a gas permeability measuring device 100' including a chamber 1' according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] <Chamber 1> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fixing part 20 provided in a chamber 1 according to one embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the chamber 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the outline of a fixing jig 21 constituting a part of the fixing part 20. The fixing part 20 shown in Fig. 1 and the chamber 1 shown in Fig. 2 are each explained in outline from a cross section taken along the line AA' shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the outline of an internal specimen jig 22 provided in the fixing part 20.

[0013] [Fixed part 20] The fixing part 20 shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1 fixes the sample 30. The fixing part 20 includes a sample internal jig 22, a jig clamping part 23, and a chamber opening 24 which is a part of the fixing jig 21. In the chamber 1 shown in Fig. 2, the chamber recess 11 and the fixing jig 21 are fixed together to form the chamber interior 10.

[0014] The fixing portion 20 includes a fixing jig 21, an internal jig 22, and a jig clamping portion (clamping portion) 23.

[0015] The fixing jig 21 has a contact portion 213, a chamber opening 24, and further has a through hole 211 and a through hole 212. The inside-sample jig 22 has a contact portion 223, a jig opening 25, and further has a through hole 211.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, in the fixing part 20, the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 provided in the sample 30 is disposed between the abutment portion 213 of the fixing jig 21 and the abutment portion 223 of the sample internal jig 22. Here, as shown in Fig. 2, the jig tightening portion 23 is inserted into the through hole 211 of the fixing jig 21 and the through hole 221 of the sample internal jig 22, and the fixing jig 21 and the sample internal jig 22 are tightened so that they approach each other. In this way, the fixing part 20 may be fixed so that the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 of the sample 30 is sandwiched between the abutment portion 213 of the fixing jig 21 and the abutment portion 223 of the sample internal jig 22, which face each other.

[0017] 2, the chamber 1 is fastened by inserting the chamber fastening portion 12 into the through hole 212 of the fixing jig 21 and the through hole 111 of the chamber recess 11, so that the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 approach each other. As a result, the chamber 1 forms the chamber interior 10 by the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 while fixing the chamber opening 24 to the chamber 1.

[0018] The chamber 1 can sandwich the periphery of the sample opening 32 between the fixing jig 21 and the sample interior jig 22 while communicating the chamber opening 24, the jig opening 25, and the sample opening 32 with each other. This allows the chamber 1 and the sample 30 to be fixed so that the chamber interior 10 of the chamber 1 and the inside of the hollow portion 33 of the sample 30 communicate with each other while increasing the airtightness against the outside atmosphere.

[0019] In addition, the chamber 1 shown in FIG. 2 can supply, for example, a carrier gas from the chamber interior 10 side to the hollow portion of the sample 30 while maintaining airtightness against the atmosphere outside the sample 30. Therefore, the chamber 1 can be suitably used as a chamber for measuring gas permeability. In addition, since the sample 30 can be fixed to the chamber 1 without using an adhesive composition, the carrier gas does not contain any components other than those that have permeated the sample 30 itself. In other words, it is possible to avoid contamination of the carrier gas by components released from the adhesive composition and a decrease in the detection accuracy of the components that have permeated the sample 30 itself due to the contamination of the carrier gas.

[0020] [Fixed jig 21] As shown in Fig. 1, the fixing jig 21 is a jig that fixes the sample internal jig 22, which is placed in the hollow portion of the sample 30, from the outside of the hollow portion 33 of the sample 30. Here, as shown in Fig. 3, the fixing jig 21 may include a chamber opening 24 and a plurality of through holes 211 that are provided on the periphery of the chamber opening 24 and surround the chamber opening 24. In the fixing jig 21, the chamber opening 24 and the plurality of through holes 211 may be surrounded by an abutment portion 213 having a ring structure.

[0021] (Chamber opening 24) As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the chamber opening 24 is preferably a circle, and more preferably a perfect circle. However, the shape of the chamber opening 24 is not limited as long as the chamber opening 24 and the jig opening 25 communicate with each other, and may be, for example, an ellipse or a polygon such as a square. In addition, the inner diameter of the chamber opening 24 is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the sample opening 32 from the viewpoint of inserting the fastening part inside the sample opening 32. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the multiple through holes 211 are preferably provided in the peripheral portion of the chamber opening 24 so as to be positioned inside the inner diameter of the sample opening 32 when the sample 30 is fixed. This eliminates the need to provide a through hole for inserting the jig fastening part 23 in the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 of the sample 30, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0022] 3, the fixing jig 21 may have a plurality of through holes 211 in the peripheral portion of the chamber opening 24 defined inside the abutment portion 213 shown by the dashed line. The fastening portion 23 is inserted into the through hole 211 together with the through hole 221 provided in the sample interior jig 22, and the fastening portion 23 fastens the fixing jig 21 and the sample interior jig 22 to sandwich the peripheral portion of the chamber opening 24 and the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 (FIG. 2). Each of the plurality of through holes 211 provided in the fixing jig 21 may be a screw hole that can be screwed into the fastening portion 23.

[0023] The through holes 211 are preferably provided inside the contact portion 213 of the fixing jig 21, surrounding the chamber opening 24 at the peripheral portion of the chamber opening 24, and at equal intervals. This makes it possible to equalize the stress applied to the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 by tightening the tightening portion 23 due to the contact portion 213 surrounding the chamber opening 24 and the through holes 211.

[0024] In FIG. 3, the through holes 211 are provided in four on the periphery of the chamber opening 24, but the number is not limited thereto. The lower limit of the number of the through holes 211 may be two or more from the viewpoint of uniformly applying the force from the contact portion 213 to the periphery of the sample opening 32. From the viewpoint of enhancing the sealing between the fixing jig 21 and the sample internal jig 22, the number is preferably four or more. The upper limit of the number of the through holes 211 is not particularly limited, and may be determined according to the inner diameter of the chamber opening 24, which may be designed according to the size of the sample 30, and the size of the fastening portion 23, for example. For example, from the viewpoint of sufficiently enhancing the sealing by the force applied by the fastening portion 23 while preventing the inner diameter of the opening 24 from being too large, the number may be 12 or less, and is preferably 8 or less. That is, the number of the through holes 211 may be 2 to 12, is preferably 4 to 12, and is more preferably 4 to 8.

[0025] 3, the fixing jig 21 may have a plurality of through holes 212 in the peripheral portion of the outermost periphery of the fixing jig 21 defined outside the abutment portion 213 shown by the dashed line. The through holes 212 of the fixing jig 21 correspond to the through holes 111 of the chamber recess 11 described later, and the chamber tightening portion 12 is inserted into the through holes 212 and the through holes 111, and the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 are tightened by the chamber tightening portion 12 to form the chamber interior 10 (FIG. 2). In other words, the chamber 1 includes the fixing jig 21 that is detachable from the chamber recess 11, and the sample 30 can be fixed to the peripheral portion of the chamber opening 24 of the fixing jig 21 in a state where the fixing jig 21 is detached from the chamber recess 11.

[0026] The through holes 212 provided in the fixing jig 21 may be screw holes that can be screwed into the chamber tightening portion 12, like the through holes 211. In FIG. 3, two through holes 212 are provided in the peripheral portion of the fixing jig 21 itself, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Two or more through holes 212 may be provided from the viewpoint of sufficiently tightening the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 to form the chamber interior 10, and it is preferable that four or more through holes 212 are provided from the viewpoint of increasing the airtightness of the chamber interior 10 against the external atmosphere. The upper limit of the number of through holes 212 is not particularly limited, and may be determined according to the outer diameter of the fixing jig 21 and the diameter of the chamber tightening portion 12 that can be designed according to the chamber recess 11 and its inner diameter, but may be 16 or less from the viewpoint of operability, for example, it is preferably 12 or less, and more preferably 8 or less. That is, the number of through holes 212 may be 2 to 16, preferably 4 to 12, and more preferably 4 to 8.

[0027] (Abutting part 213) In addition, the fixing jig 21 may be provided with an abutment portion 213 (second abutment portion) that protrudes toward the sample internal jig 22 side along the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1. Here, the abutment portion 213 shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3 may be formed as an annular structure that surrounds the chamber opening 24 and all of the through holes 211 surrounding the chamber opening 24. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, by abutting the abutment portion 213 against the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32, the sample opening 32 and the chamber opening 24 can be communicated with each other and these openings can be surrounded from the outside of the sample 30. In FIG. 3, the abutment portion 213 is illustrated as a circular convex portion surrounding the chamber opening 24, but is not limited thereto. As long as it can surround the chamber opening and the through holes provided in the peripheral portion thereof, the shape of the abutment portion that the fixing jig can have is not limited to a circular convex portion, and may be a polygonal convex portion exemplified by a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, or the like.

[0028] The contact portion 213 of the fixing jig 21 may be disposed so as to face the contact portion 223 of the sample internal jig 22 described later, and the sample opening 32 provided in the sample 30 may be disposed between the contact portion 213 and the contact portion 223. Here, the annular structure of the contact portion 213 and the annular structure of the contact portion 223 surround the sample opening 32 while sandwiching the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the sample 30 is fixed to the fixing jig 21 in a state in which the jig opening 25 of the sample internal jig 22, the sample opening 32 provided in the sample 30, and the chamber opening 24 are in communication with each other.

[0029] In this manner, since the fixing jig 21 has the contact portion 213 and the specimen interior jig 22 has the contact portion 223, the stress applied to the specimen opening 32 of the specimen 30 can be concentrated at the contact portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the air from outside the chamber 1 and the specimen 30 from leaking into the hollow portion 33 of the specimen 30 and the chamber interior 10.

[0030] [Sample internal fixture 22] The internal jig 22 of the specimen is fixed to the fixing jig 21 arranged outside the hollow portion 33 of the specimen 30 from the inside of the hollow portion 33. As shown in Fig. 4, the internal jig 22 of the specimen may include a jig opening 25 and a plurality of through holes 221, and may include a contact portion 223 on a peripheral portion surrounding the jig opening 25 and the plurality of through holes 221.

[0031] In the sample internal fixture 22, the contact portion 223 may have an annular structure including a fixture opening 25 and an annular peripheral portion. As described later, the sample internal fixture 22 may be introduced into the hollow portion of the sample 30, for example, from a seal portion 31 of the sample 30 before sealing.

[0032] The shape of the internal jig 22, that is, the shape of the internal jig 22 as seen from the side where the sample 30 is fixed to the chamber 1, is not particularly limited, and may be a circle as exemplified in Fig. 4, or a perfect circle, an ellipse, or a polygon such as a square. For example, the shape of the internal jig may be designed according to the shape of the sample opening. More specifically, if the sample opening is an ellipse or a polygon such as a square, the shape of the internal jig may be designed according to these shapes to be an ellipse or a polygon such as a square, so that the internal jig can be inserted from the sample opening.

[0033] (Jig opening 25) The shape of the jig opening 25 in a top view, that is, the shape of the jig opening 25 seen from the side of the chamber 1 where the sample 30 is fixed, is not limited, but may be a circle such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, or a polygon such as a square, like the chamber opening 24. In addition, the inner diameter of the jig opening 25 is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the sample opening 32 from the viewpoint of inserting the fastening part 23 inside the sample opening 32. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the multiple through holes 221 are preferably provided in the peripheral portion of the jig opening 25 so as to be positioned inside the inner diameter of the sample opening 32 when the sample 30 is fixed, and thus there is no need to provide a through hole for inserting the jig fastening part 23 in the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 of the sample 30.

[0034] The multiple through holes 221 in the sample internal jig 22 are preferably arranged to surround the jig opening 25, with each of the through holes 223 pairing with a corresponding through hole 211 provided in the fixing jig 21 so that the fastening portion 23 can be inserted therein. Also, each of the multiple through holes 221 in the sample internal jig 22 may be a screw hole capable of being screwed into the fastening portion 23. Also, each of the through holes 221 is preferably arranged to pair with a corresponding through hole 211 in the fixing jig 21.

[0035] (Abutting part 223) The outer peripheral edge of the internal jig 22 may have an abutment 223 formed as a ring-shaped protrusion that surrounds all of the through holes 221 surrounding the jig opening 25 and protrudes toward the fixing jig 21 from the flat surface where the jig opening 25 is provided. By forming the abutment 223 (first abutment) on the peripheral edge of the internal jig 22, the stress applied by tightening the tightening part 23 can be concentrated between the abutment 223 and the abutment 213 of the fixing jig 21. As a result, the abutment 223 and the abutment 213 can communicate the jig opening 25 of the internal jig 22 with the sample opening 32 and the chamber opening 24 while surrounding the sample opening 32.

[0036] 4, the contact portion 223 is illustrated as a circular convex portion surrounding the jig opening 25, but is not limited thereto. As long as it can surround the jig opening and the through hole provided in the peripheral portion thereof, the shape of the contact portion that the sample internal jig can have is not limited to a circular convex portion, and may be a polygonal convex portion exemplified by a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, etc.

[0037] [Tightening portion 23] The fastening portion 23 is inserted through the through hole 221 provided in the jig opening 25 and the through hole 221 provided in the chamber opening 24, and fastens so that the abutting portion 223 of the sample interior jig 22 and the abutting portion 213 of the fixing jig 21 approach each other. This fixes the peripheral portion of the sample opening 32 to the fixing jig 21 provided in the chamber 1. Fastening the fastening portion 23 increases the airtightness between the sample 30 in the fixing portion 20 and the fixing jig 21 and the sample interior jig 22, thereby increasing the airtightness of the chamber interior 10 and the hollow portion 33 of the sample 30 against the outside atmosphere (FIG. 2).

[0038] The fastening portion 23 may be realized by a plurality of bolts and nuts corresponding to the number of the through holes 211 of the fixing jig 21 and the through holes 221 provided in the sample internal jig 22, and may include a washer. In addition, each of the through holes 221 and the through holes 211 may be formed as a threaded portion that screws into the fastening portion 23.

[0039] (gasket) In addition, in the fixing jig 21 and the sample internal jig 22, the contact parts 213 and 223, which are arranged to face each other on the periphery of the sample opening 32, are preferably provided with gaskets 26 and 27 at the tips of the annular convex parts. This can increase the airtightness between the fixing part 20 and the sample 30. The material of the gasket may be, for example, a resin material, and is preferably elastic. The gasket may be made of rubber, and is preferably a fluororesin or fluorine-based elastomer. The gaskets 26 and 27 made of fluororesin or fluorine-based elastomer are harder than O-rings, which are general sealing materials, so that bending stress is less likely to occur when compressing and sealing the sample 30, and the compression stress can effectively increase the adhesion with the film sample 30. In addition, there is an advantage that the same level of adhesion as that of a metal sealing material can be obtained, and damage to the sample 30 can be reduced more than that of a metal sealing material.

[0040] Furthermore, since fluororesin or fluoroelastomers generally have high heat resistance of about 150°C or higher, the gas permeability of gaskets 26 and 27 made of fluororesin or fluoroelastomers is kept low even at high temperatures. Therefore, gaskets 26 and 27 made of fluororesin or fluoroelastomers maintain airtightness even during high-temperature measurements, enabling highly accurate gas permeability measurements.

[0041] The fluororesin or fluoroelastomer forming the gaskets 26 and 27 may be a fluororesin or fluoroelastomer selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymer materials such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroethylene-propene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer, etc. In this specification, the term "fluororesin" refers to a synthetic resin obtained by polymerizing olefin containing fluorine, and the term "fluoroelastomer" refers to a synthetic elastomer containing fluorine atoms.

[0042] The gaskets 26 and 27 are sandwiched together with the sample 30 by the fastening part 23, and each is compressed in a direction perpendicular to the sample 30. Since the gaskets 26 and 27 are compressed in a direction perpendicular to the sample 30 by the fastening part 23, a compressive stress can be appropriately applied to the sample 30. The fastening part 23 pressurizes the gaskets 26 and 27 with a pressure of preferably 50 to 240 cNm, more preferably 60 to 200 cNm, and most preferably 160 cNm, for example, since the sample 30 made of a film material is not damaged as described later, and the airtightness is effectively improved. The optimal pressure applied to the gaskets 26 and 27 by the fastening part 5 is appropriately selected from the above pressure range depending on the material of the gaskets 26 and 27 and the surface condition of the sample 30.

[0043] [Chamber recess 11] The chamber recess 11 can be fixed to the fixing jig 21 by the chamber tightening part 12 to form the chamber interior 10. The chamber recess 11 and the fixing jig 21 are fixed detachably. The connection part between the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 may be provided with a chamber gasket 13 for protecting the connection part. Since the chamber recess 11 is fixed detachably to the fixing jig 21, the fixing jig 21 can be removed, the sample 30 can be fixed, and then the fixing jig 21 and the chamber recess 11 can be assembled. This allows the sample 30 to be successfully fixed to the chamber 1. Furthermore, since the chamber tightening part 12 is provided, the chamber interior 10 can be kept airtight against the external atmosphere even in the assembled chamber 1. The gasket 13 can be made of the same material as the gaskets 26 and 27 described above. The configuration of the chamber tightening part 12 can be realized by bolts or the like, similar to the above-mentioned chamber tightening part 23. Furthermore, the through hole 111 and the chamber fastening portion 12 may be configured as a threaded portion that screws together.

[0044] [Gas introduction pipe 41] The chamber 1 is preferably provided with a gas introduction pipe 41 in the chamber recess 11. The gas introduction pipe 41 is a pipe for introducing a carrier gas into the hollow part of the sample 30. The gas introduction pipe 41 is provided with a gas introduction pipe opening 42 at its tip, and the gas introduction pipe opening 42 is preferably inserted into the hollow part of the sample 30 from the chamber interior 10 side through the jig opening 25. This allows the carrier gas from the gas introduction pipe 41 to be introduced into the hollow part of the sample 30 while the flow of the carrier gas can be guided from the hollow part of the sample 30 to the chamber interior 10. Therefore, for example, the flow of the carrier gas can be controlled without using a fan, a pump, or the like, and the retention of the carrier gas in the hollow part of the sample 30 can be suppressed.

[0045] [Sample 30] The sample fixed in the chamber according to the embodiment of the present invention is a sample having a hollow portion therein. The sample may be, for example, a container used for various purposes such as electronic components and medicines, and examples of the container include a bag such as a laminated bag made of a film material, and a metal container. The sample 30 is a bag made of a film material, and includes a seal portion 31 and a seal portion 31', and a sample opening 32 is formed.

[0046] The sealed portion 31 and the sealed portion 31' in the sample 30 may be heat-sealed portions when the sample 30 is a laminate film such as a laminate bag. For example, an aluminum laminate bag may have a hollow portion formed by heat sealing, and aluminum foil has extremely low gas permeability.

[0047] Also, the sealed portion 31' in the sample 30 may be a zipper that can open and seal the bag. The sealed portion 31' in the sample 30 may be a sealed portion formed by thermal fusion such as heat sealing. The sample may be a freezer bag such as Ziploc (registered trademark). Here, the film material forming the zippered resin bag may be a single-layer resin film or a laminated film of an aluminum film and a resin film, and the material is not limited. In the sample 30, the sealed portion 31' may be opened, the sample internal jig 22 may be introduced into the hollow portion of the sample 30, and the sealed portion 31 may be sealed.

[0048] As described above, the problem with sample 30, which is a container having a zipper and / or heat seal such as seal portion 31 and / or seal portion 31', is that the gas permeability at these seal portions is different from the gas permeability at the film surface of the container. However, with chamber 1, the hollow portion of sample 30 can be communicated with chamber interior 10 without damaging the shape of seal portions such as seal portion 31 and seal portion 31', and airtightness against the outside atmosphere can be maintained. Therefore, even if sample 30 has a member having a gas permeability different from the container material, such as seal portion 31 and seal portion 31', the gas permeability can be measured without damaging the structure of seal portion 31 and seal portion 31'.

[0049] The sample opening 32 may be provided by cutting out a part of the film material forming the sample 30. The shape of the sample opening 32 in the top view is not limited as long as it is large enough to allow gas to flow between the hollow portion of the sample 30 and the inside of the chamber 10 and to fix the periphery of the sample opening 32 by the inside of the periphery of the fixing jig 21 and the periphery of the sample internal jig 22. For example, the shape of the sample opening 32 in the top view may be a slit-like opening provided in a cutter or the like. As an example, from the viewpoint of successfully inserting the fastening part 23 into the through hole of the fixing jig 21 and the through hole of the sample internal jig 22, the shape of the sample opening 32 in the top view is preferably circular, and the diameter of the sample opening 32 is preferably matched to the size of the inner diameter of the annular periphery of the fixing jig 21 and the annular periphery of the sample internal jig 22. For example, the shape of the sample opening 32 in the top view may be circular, such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, or polygonal, such as a square. For example, the sample opening 32 may be provided in the sample 30 by known means such as an opener.

[0050] (Other samples) When the sample is a metal container, the metal container may be, for example, a metal container with a cap having a sealing part such as an O-ring. As in the case of sample 30, a sample opening is provided on the side of the metal container, a sample internal jig is placed inside the metal container (i.e., in the hollow part), and the side of the metal container is fixed by a fixing part. This makes it possible to measure the gas permeability of a metal container governed by a sealing part in a cap having a sealing part such as an O-ring and a metal gasket, or a metal container with a flange having such a sealing part, without damaging the structure of the sealing part.

[0051] <Chamber according to one modified example> The chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned chamber 1. A chamber according to one modification of the present invention is a sample internal jig that is composed of a split jig (not shown) in which the sample internal jig is divided into a plurality of pieces, and is a sample internal jig that forms a jig opening by combining the split jigs. The sample internal jig may be a sample internal jig having a ring-shaped structure, and the ring-shaped structure may be divided into a plurality of pieces. By the sample internal jig being composed of a split jig divided into a plurality of pieces, each of the split jigs can be introduced into the hollow part of the sample through the sample opening provided in the sample, and the split jig can be assembled in the hollow part of the sample. This allows the sample internal jig to be successfully installed in the hollow part of the sample, even if the sample is, for example, a container that does not have a fastener or zipper as described above. For example, a split jig that is equally divided into the sample internal jig 22 along the dashed line shown in FIG. 4 can be exemplified as the split jig. In this modification, as long as at least one jig opening can be formed by combining the split jigs, the split jig is not limited to a sample internal jig that is equally divided into the sample internal jig along the dashed line as shown in FIG. 4.

[0052] <Gas permeability measuring device 100> Hereinafter, a gas permeability measuring device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0053] The gas permeability measuring apparatus 100 includes a chamber 1, and a sample 30 having a hollow portion 33 is fixed by a fixing portion 20 included in the chamber 1. The sample 30 fixed to the chamber 1 can be stored together with the chamber 1 in a tank 60 of the gas permeability measuring apparatus 100, which is an apparatus including a gas inlet portion 40, a measuring portion 50, and a tank 60. The gas permeability measuring apparatus 100 can measure the permeability of gas that permeates from the outside of the sample 30 toward the hollow portion 33.

[0054] <Gas flow> In the gas permeability measuring device 100, gas may be introduced into the sample 30 in the direction of arrow A through the gas introduction tube 41 from the gas introduction section 40 provided outside the tank 60. Hereinafter, the gas introduced in the direction of arrow A is also referred to as "carrier gas". The gas collected from the sample 30 to the chamber 1 flows sequentially along the arrows B, C, D, E, and F, and is transported to the measurement section 50 through the gas collection tube 51 in the direction of arrow G. At this time, the outside of the sample 30 is exposed to the atmosphere gas (detection gas) represented by the arrows H, I, and J, and the target component that has permeated into the hollow section 33 from the outside of the sample 30 is captured by the carrier gas and is flowed to the measurement section 50, whereby the target component in the carrier gas can be measured. Hereinafter, the gas containing the target component that has permeated through the sample 30 and collected is referred to as "measurement target gas".

[0055] Because gas flows in this manner in the chamber interior 10 and the hollow portion of the sample 30, gas stagnation is suppressed, and the gas flow can be smoothly guided from the hollow portion of the sample 30 through the chamber interior 10 to the measurement portion 50.

[0056] The carrier gas is not particularly limited as long as it is a gas that is inert to the components to be measured, and may be, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, or xenon, or oxygen.

[0057] The gas inlet 40 for introducing the carrier gas into the chamber interior 10 of the chamber 1 and into the hollow portion 33 of the sample 30 may preferably include a cylinder for storing the carrier gas, a control valve for controlling the flow rate of the carrier gas, and a flow meter for the carrier gas.

[0058] [Measurement section 50] The measuring unit 50 is not particularly limited as long as it is a device that can detect a target component contained in a gas to be measured that contains a target component that has passed through the sample 30 from the atmosphere outside the sample 30 and reached the hollow portion, and a known detection means may be appropriately selected depending on the detection target. For example, the measuring unit 50 may be a detection device such as a moisture meter, an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer, a mass spectrometer, an oxygen concentration meter, a dew point meter, a gas sensor, a detector tube, and an infrared absorption spectrometer.

[0059] There is no particular limitation on the target component measured by the measurement unit 50. Examples include inorganic gases such as water vapor, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide; organic gases such as methane; and corrosive gases such as acetic acid and hydrogen sulfide.

[0060] (Gas recovery pipe 51) The gas recovery pipe 51 may be a pipe that communicates with the measurement section 50 from a gas recovery pipe opening 52 provided in the chamber recess 11. The gas recovery pipe 51 may be introduced into the hollow section of the sample 30 to introduce the measurement gas containing the target component into the measurement section 50. The gas recovery pipe 51 may be detachably attached to the chamber recess 11.

[0061] [Tank 60] The tank 60 is a tank capable of housing the chamber 1 to which the sample 30 is fixed. The tank 60 may be provided with a hatch (not shown) that can be opened and closed to the outside of the gas permeability measurement device 100. This allows the sample 30 fixed in the chamber 1 to be exposed to the atmosphere outside the gas permeability measurement device 100 to measure the gas permeability. In addition, for example, the tank 60 may be a thermo-hygrostat tank, and may be provided with an air conditioning device (not shown) that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere outside the sample 30 fixed in the chamber 1.

[0062] <Chamber 1' (Gas Permeability Measurement Apparatus 100')> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0063] 6 is a schematic diagram showing a gas permeability measurement device 100' including a chamber 1' according to this embodiment. The gas permeability measurement device 100' is the same as the gas permeability measurement device 100 except that the chamber 1' is used instead of the chamber 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] The chamber 1' includes a fixing part 20' in which a chamber opening 24' is formed, and the fixing part 20' is provided in a chamber recess 21'. That is, the chamber 1' according to this embodiment includes the fixing part 20' as a part of the chamber recess 21' in which the fixing jig 21 included in the chamber 1 according to one embodiment and the chamber recess 11 are integrally formed. The chamber recess 21' may also be the main body of the chamber 1' that defines the chamber interior 10'. In the chamber 1', a plurality of through holes 211' are provided in the chamber recess 21' of the chamber 1' so as to surround the chamber opening 24'.

[0065] In the above configuration, as in the chamber 1, the hollow portion 33 inside the sample can be supplied with gas while maintaining the airtightness of the hollow portion 33 against the outside atmosphere. Therefore, by using the chamber 1', a container with a hollow portion such as a bag can be successfully fixed and the gas permeability can be measured. In addition, by using the chamber 1', the gas permeability of a fastener-equipped resin bag, an aluminum laminate bag, etc. can be accurately measured as described above.

[0066] <Gas permeability measurement method> The gas permeability measurement method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a method for measuring gas permeability using a chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention or one modified example. In the gas permeability measurement method, by using a chamber according to one embodiment or one modified example, a gas can be supplied to a hollow part inside a sample while maintaining the airtightness of the hollow part against the external atmosphere. Therefore, a container having a hollow part such as a bag can be successfully fixed and the gas permeability can be measured. In addition, since the chamber according to one embodiment or one modified example is used, the gas permeability of a fastener-equipped resin bag or the like can be accurately measured as described above. Furthermore, by using the chamber according to one embodiment or one modified example, it is not necessary to use an adhesive composition. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the carrier gas from being contaminated by the components released from the adhesive composition, and to avoid a decrease in the detection accuracy of the components that have permeated the sample itself. Therefore, the method for measuring gas permeability using a chamber according to one embodiment or one modified example is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0067] (summary) The chamber according to aspect 1 of the present invention is a chamber for fixing a sample having a hollow portion, the chamber comprising: a fixing portion for fixing a peripheral portion of a sample opening provided in the sample; and a chamber opening for introducing gas into the hollow portion through the sample opening and recovering the gas introduced into the hollow portion inside the chamber, the fixing portion comprising a jig opening communicating with the sample opening and the chamber opening, a sample internal jig arranged inside the hollow portion, and a clamping portion for clamping the peripheral portion of the sample opening by the peripheral portion of the jig opening and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening.

[0068] A chamber according to aspect 2 of the present invention is configured as in aspect 1, wherein the tightening portion is inserted into the peripheral portion of the jig opening, the inside of the sample opening, and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening, and the peripheral portion of the sample opening is fixed by tightening the peripheral portion of the jig opening and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening.

[0069] The chamber according to aspect 3 of the present invention, in aspect 1 or 2 above, comprises a first abutment portion surrounding the peripheral portion of the jig opening and a second abutment portion surrounding the peripheral portion of the chamber opening, and it is preferable that the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion surround and sandwich the peripheral portion of the sample opening.

[0070] The chamber according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 3 above, comprises a fixing jig having the chamber opening and a chamber recess for fixing the fixing jig, and the interior of the chamber is formed by fixing the fixing jig to the chamber recess for fixing.

[0071] A chamber according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the intra-sample jig comprises a split jig divided into a plurality of pieces, and the jig opening is formed by combining the split jigs.

[0072] The chamber according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, may further include a gas introduction pipe that passes through the chamber opening and is inserted into the hollow portion.

[0073] The chamber according to the seventh aspect of the present invention may be a container in which the sample is provided with a seal portion in any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0074] A gas permeability measuring device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention may include the chamber according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

[0075] A gas permeability measurement method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is a gas permeability measurement method using the chamber according to any one of the first to seventh aspects. [Industrial Applicability]

[0076] The present invention can be used to evaluate the gas permeability of a sample. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1, 1' Chamber 10, 10' Inside the chamber (chamber) 11 Chamber recess (chamber) 12 Chamber Clamp 13 Chamber gasket 20 Fixed part (chamber) 21 Fixture (chamber) 213 Contact part (1st contact part) 22 Sample inner fixture 223 Contact part (second contact part) 23 Jig clamping part (clamping part) 24 Chamber opening (opening) 25 Jig opening 26 Gasket (first contact part) 27 Gasket (second contact part) 30 Samples 31 Seal part (sample) 32 Sample opening (sample) 33 Hollow section (sample) 40 Gas inlet 41 Gas inlet pipe 42 Gas inlet pipe opening 50 Measuring part 51 Gas recovery pipe 52 Gas recovery pipe opening 60 tanks

Claims

1. A chamber for fixing a sample having a hollow portion, The chamber is a fixing portion for fixing a peripheral portion of a sample opening provided in the sample; a chamber opening for introducing a gas into the hollow portion through the sample opening and recovering the gas introduced into the hollow portion into the chamber; The fixing part is a sample internal fixture disposed within the hollow portion, the sample internal fixture including a fixture opening communicating with the sample opening and the chamber opening; and a clamping portion that clamps the peripheral portion of the sample opening by the peripheral portion of the jig opening and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening. Chamber.

2. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the fastening portion is inserted into the peripheral portion of the jig opening, the inside of the sample opening, and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening, and fastens the peripheral portion of the jig opening and the peripheral portion of the chamber opening to fix the peripheral portion of the sample opening.

3. A first contact portion surrounding a peripheral portion of the jig opening; a second abutment portion surrounding a peripheral edge portion of the chamber opening, 3. The chamber according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion surround and sandwich a peripheral portion of the sample opening.

4. A fixture having the chamber opening; and a chamber recess for fixing the fixing jig; The chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interior of the chamber is formed by fixing the fixing jig to the chamber recess.

5. The sample internal jig is composed of a divided jig divided into a plurality of parts, The chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the jig opening is formed by combining the divided jigs.

6. The chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a gas inlet tube that passes through the chamber opening and is inserted into the hollow portion.

7. The chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sample is a container equipped with a seal.

8. A gas permeability measuring device comprising the chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for measuring gas permeability, comprising using the chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images