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Title: Subdiffusive High-Pressure Hydrogen Gas Dynamics in Elastomers

Journal Article · · Macromolecules

We report elastomeric rubber materials serve a vital role as sealing materials in the hydrogen storage and transport infrastructure. With applications including O-rings and hose liners, these components are exposed to pressurized hydrogen at a range of temperatures, cycling rates, and pressure extremes. High-pressure exposure and subsequent rapid decompression often lead to cavitation and stress-induced damage of the elastomer due to localization of the hydrogen gas. Here, we use all-atom classical molecular dynamics simulations to assess the impact of compositional variations on gas diffusion within the commonly used elastomer ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM). With the aim to build a predictive understanding of precursors to cavitation and to motivate material formulations that are less sensitive to hydrogen-induced failure, we perform systematic simulations of gas dynamics in EPDM as a function of temperature, gas concentration, and cross-link density. Our simulations reveal anomalous, subdiffusive hydrogen motion at pressure and intermediate times. We identify two groups of gas with different mobilities: one group exhibiting high mobility and one group exhibiting low mobility due to their motion being impeded by the polymer. With decreasing temperatures, the low-mobility group shows increased gas localization, the necessary precursor for cavitation damage in these materials. At lower temperatures, increasing cross-link density led to greater hydrogen gas mobility and a lower fraction of caged hydrogen, indicating that increasing cross-link density may reduce precursors to cavitation. Finally, we use a two-state kinetic model to determine the energetics associated with transitions between these two mobility states.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003525; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1877123
Report Number(s):
SAND2022-8320J; 707446
Journal Information:
Macromolecules, Vol. 55, Issue 10; ISSN 0024-9297
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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