This paper outlines preliminary work, part of a longer term programme to assess the feasibility of using trapped fluids to probe the morphology of processed polymers, particularly extruded fluoroplastic pipe. It primarily concerns measurement of the diffusion coefficient of a liquid through an oriented fluoroplastic pipe. Such pipes are employed in barrier applications to contain and transport aggressive chemicals and to impede corrosion of underlying metallic structures. Relevant background theory concerning the permeation phenomenon is provided as well as a detailed discussion of the experimental options available for measuring diffusion coefficients of oriented thermoplastics. It cannot be assumed that the diffusion coefficient measured for a small sample cut from extruded polymer pipe
is characteristic of the service (curved) surface. It must first be established whether orientation effects are present in the pipe. This can be achieved efficiently by employing designed (factorial) experiments. Keywords: diffusion, permeation, adsorption, absorption, fluoroplastic, extruded pipe, designed experiment, factorial, anisotropy