AQUALAB Introduces 
Economical Packaging 
Permeability Tool

AQUALAB by Addium today announced the availability of its new Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Testing Cell, an accessory that slots into the AQUALAB VSA and unlocks fast, reliable WVTR measurements alongside the instrument’s existing Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) and Dynamic Dewpoint Isotherm (DDI) modes. 

This single add‑on eliminates the need for separate, expensive permeation analyzers and gives packaging and food scientists economical in‑house control over a critical property.

“Until now, accurate WVTR data meant sending samples to a service lab or buying expensive stand‑alone analyzers that struggle with the new sustainable packaging materials brands are racing to adopt,” said Mary Galloway, R&D Scientist at AQUALAB. “With this new cell, teams can validate potential packaging in‑house with far less risk.”

Built for the new wave of sustainable packaging

When analyzing fiber‑based and other sustainable packaging, industry-standard WVTR measurement devices often give water vapor an unintentional escape path around the cell perimeter. When vapor escapes, that mass loss never reaches the balance, so WVTR appears artificially low and packaging seems more protective than it really is. 

The new WVTR Testing Cell's patent-pending design only allows moisture to cross the sample face, delivering repeatable results even on molded pulp, coated paper, or other natural materials.

Proven AQUALAB accuracy, reliability and simplicity

Because most WVTR devices struggle with fiber‑based substrates, many labs fall back to ASTM E96 cup tests  – a time-intensive, often unreliable method that calls for repetitive manual weighing and mass change calculation.

Coupled with the VSA, the new WVTR Testing Cell automates the entire procedure – and adds remarkable precision. The VSA holds chamber temperature within ±0.1 °C and humidity to 0.01 % RH (0.0001 aw), and collects continuous weight data through a high-power balance, delivering hundreds of data points without humidity chambers, or weigh‑ins, or other manual labor.

Prepping samples and starting a test takes less than five minutes, and doesn’t require nitrogen gas or modification of the AQUALAB VSA.

Moisture Analysis Toolkit 3 launches in parallel

The release coincides with MAT 3.0, a major update to the VSA’s companion software that automates WVTR test setup, calculates steady‑state permeation rates, and merges the results with isotherm data for a complete moisture‑barrier profile. VSA users who purchase the add‑on will receive the MAT 3.0 software upgrade at no initial cost, further expanding the capability and value of their investment.

Available now

The WVTR Cell is available immediately as an add‑on for every AQUALAB VSA.

The WVTR Testing Cell kit ships with everything needed to begin immediate WVTR testing: Two cells, a precision punch, lab tools, and enough desiccant for more than 100 WVTR tests, all packaged within a protective hard case. 

Learn how the WVTR Cell and MAT 3.0 accelerate moisture management projects at https://aqualab.com/en/products/aqualab-vsa/.