Session: MF-02-01 Materials for Hydrogen Service-Polymers 1

Paper Number: 122705

122705 - Investigation of the Effect of High-Pressure Hydrogen Exposure on the Tensile Behavior of Acrylonitrille Butadiene Rubber 

The use of hydrogen gas is expanding due to its potential as a green energy source with zero pollution. Extensive research has been conducted on the hydrogen embrittlement effect on metals, including its mechanisms and changes in macroscopic material properties. However, studies on the effects of high-pressure hydrogen exposure on organic materials such as elastomeric seals, necessary for the practical transportation of compressed hydrogen gas, are relatively limited.

In this study, to investigate the impact of high-pressure hydrogen exposure on the tensile behavior of sealing materials, specimens of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) reinforced with 20, 40, and 60 phr compositions of carbon black filler were exposed to gaseous hydrogen at 99 MPa for 24 hours. The damaged cross-sectional morphology resulting from hydrogen exposure was examined using scanning electron microscopy to make stereological predictions about the volumetric orientation of spherical damages using the Saltykov method. The quantified volumetric damage was utilized to create a morphological representative volume element (RVE) with spherical voids. The RVE model was evaluated through finite element analysis to assess changes in macroscopic mechanical properties before and after high-pressure hydrogen exposure, considering the Mooney-Rivlin strain energy density function. The effect of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen exposure on mechanical properties during tensile loading was measured using a servo-hydraulic tensile tester. The results of finite element analysis and material testing suggest a correlation between the microscopic morphology of the cross-section and changes in the mechanical behavior of NBR due to high-pressure hydrogen exposure.

Studying the long-term damage assessment of sealing materials for hydrogen mobility and understanding its relationship with mechanical properties is crucial to ensuring safe and reliable valve systems in hydrogen environments. Furthermore, establishing such a relationship is expected to lead to improvements in the selection, design, monitoring, and maintenance of sealing rubber materials in high-pressure hydrogen environments.

Presenting Author: Sang Min Lee Korea University

Presenting Author Biography: Sang Min Lee recieved his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Hanyang University in 2021. Currently he is attending Integrated master's and doctoral course at Korea University.

Authors:

Sang Min Lee Korea University
Byeong-Lyul Choi Korea University
Un Bong Baek Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Byoung-Ho Choi Korea University