Kraiburg advances elastomer compounds for hydrogen applications

Waldkraiburg, Germany – Gummiwerk Kraiburg is expanding its materials portfolio for the gas industry to include compounds suitable for contact with hydrogen, the company has announced.

The process has involved submitting elastomer compounds from the most important hardness ranges – already certified according to DIN EN 682 and DIN EN 549 – for testing.

“The tests successfully carried out in accordance with DVGW certification program confirm suitability for use in applications with hydrogen,” Kraiburg said in a December press release.

As part of the conversion to a climate-neutral power supply, and in view of the uncertain current power supply situation, more hydrogen will in future be fed into the existing gas grid, the company noted.

A critical requirement for the transport, transfer and storage of H2 is to ensure that the highly flammable gas safely contained, Kraiburg went on to point out.

For this purpose, the DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfachs, German Association for Gas and Water) has developed the certification programme ZP 5101.

The programme carries the title: ‘Compatibility and permeation properties of elastomer materials for seals and membranes in gas appliances and installations in relation to hydrogen for a content of up to 100 vol% H2.’

This encompasses a test procedure in which materials are tested for hydrogen permeability with a coefficient is determined that characterises H2 permeability.

In an “elaborate” series of tests, the H2 gas permeability of compounds from Kraiburg was tested, and their suitability for materials in hydrogen applications determined.

The results, said Kraiburg, “are convincing thanks to their excellent permeation values for the area of application.”

This, it added, “ensures that seals that have already been installed with materials from Kraiburg, that have already been certified in accordance with DIN EN 682 and DIN EN 549, are also suitable for future requirements with regard to hydrogen.

“At the same time, they can also be put to the test and used for new applications.”