Hydrogen Testing Services - Laboratories and Support

Hydrogen Testing Laboratory Services at TWI

Our unique hydrogen testing facilities encompass both static and dynamic assessments in gaseous hydrogen, including:

• Slow strain rate tensile testing from -40°C to 80°C in gaseous hydrogen at up to 450 bar
• Fatigue endurance and fatigue crack growth rate testing at up to 450 bar
• Fracture toughness testing of single edge notched bend (SENB) specimens at up to 450 Bar, with capabilities to perform single edge notched tension (SENT) tests in development
• Threshold stress intensity factor tests in hydrogen (i.e. KIH fracture toughness testing) at a range of pressures and temperatures
• Thermal hydrogen pre-charging of specimens up to 35mm diameter at temperatures up to 530°C at 100 Bar

Our environmental testing laboratories are supported by fully-equipped sample preparation and characterisation facilities, featuring:

• Permeation testing of mixed gases through non-metallic materials at up to 650 Bar and 250°C
• Cryogenic storage of specimens prior to analysis, to minimise hydrogen losses
• Advanced microscopy facilities for post-test fractographic analysis, including scanning electron microscopes with energy and wave-dispersive spectroscopy
• Diffusible and residual hydrogen concentration measurements

In addition to these facilities, we are building a bespoke ‘Elevated Temperature Hydrogen Embrittlement Rig (ETHER),’ to provide high-temperature hydrogen embrittlement testing, tailored to space applications and capable of performing dynamic mechanical tests in H2 gas at pressures up to 500 Bar and temperatures up to 425°C.

In addition, we have designed and manufactured two new custom-made 450 bar hydrogen pressure vessels, which will be integrated into a mechanical frame to allow for the testing of both metallic and polymeric specimens with a load capacity of 100kN fatigue and 200kN static. These new systems will allow for tests including tensile, slow strain rate tests, fatigue endurance, fatigue crack growth, fracture toughness, compact tension, single edge notch bend, and single edge notch tension testing. There is also scope for future features to be added, including low cycle fatigue testing, while the large internal volume of the pressure vessels allows for them utilised in an exposure or ageing function.

These new assets, coupled with our existing capabilities, help us maintain our position at the forefront of gaseous H2 testing.

Please contact us for more information:

contactus@twi.co.uk

Challenges and Advances

Hydrogen Cracking

Although hydrogen promises a wealth of benefits across industry, particularly as a fuel source of the future, hydrogen assisted cracking remains one of the most challenging aspects of its use.

Hydrogen cracking, also known as delayed cracking, differs according to the source of the hydrogen and includes fabrication hydrogen cracking, hydrogen-induced stress cracking, hydrogen-induced cracking, and stress corrosion cracking (SCC).

With metals, hydrogen-assisted cracking occurs when atomic hydrogen enters steel and certain other alloys (such as aluminium and titanium alloys), where it can cause a loss of ductility or a reduction in load-carrying ability, or catastrophic brittle failures at stresses well below the yield or design strength for the alloys.

Hydrogen Permeation

TWI has already helped create industry-wide rules in relation to hydrogen permeation through metals, which have helped inform solutions for hydrogen storage and transportation. Our world-leading experts in non-metallic materials and permeation are now addressing the need for knowledge around hydrogen permeation in non-metallic materials. Without set standards, industry will not be able to fully exploit hydrogen as a sustainable and potentially game-changing resource, and TWI is at the forefront of testing and understanding hydrogen permeation on a wide range of varying polymers.