Abstract
The permeability of gases through moistened highpolymer films has been measured at various relative humidities. In the case of polyvinylalcohol the permeability coefficient (P) increases remarkably with the water content of films. Such increase of P may be attributed to increase of diffusion coefficient due to activation of the segmental motions. On the contrary, for cellulose derivatives and polyethylene, both P and D initially decrease and then increase, passing through a minimum, with the increase of the relative humidity. The initial reductions of P and D may be ascribed to the tortuous diffusion of the molecules of such gases due to the disterbance by water molecules absorbed in the films.
