title: In vitro assessment of water vapour transmission of synthetic wound dressings.
abstract: The water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) of 14 commercially available wound dressings (11 hydrocolloids, 2 hydrogels and 1 polyurethane film) was evaluated over 24 and 48 h periods using a modified ASTM standard method (ASTM E96-90). For the 48 h studies a novel microcomputer-controlled apparatus was employed. The dressings exhibited a wide range of WVTRs (76-9360 g m-2 d-1 at 24 h under forced air convection of 0.4 m s-1). The influence of air velocity of 0.4 m s-1 was not significant if the WVTR of the dressing was less than 880 g m-2 d-1 when measured under static air conditions. The influence of outer barrier layers and additional bandages on WVTR was also examined.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Queen
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gaylor
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages / Q000592:standards*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000592:standards*; D003102:Colloids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D004058:Diffusion; D005782:Gels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D006813:Humidity; D008838:Microcomputers; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003102:Colloids; D005782:Gels; D011140:Polyurethanes; D014867:Water