Evaluation of High-Pressure Hydrogen Uptake and Diffusivity in Polymer Using a Volumetric Analysis-Based Hydrogen Measurement System
Hydrogen has a wide flammability range and rapidly diffuses in air, making precision detection technology essential to prevent explosion risks and ensure system safety as the adoption of hydrogen infrastructure expands. Polymer materials are employed in such infrastructure to seal high-pressure hydrogen, and reliable measurement techniques capable of quantifying trace amounts of hydrogen permeating or leaking through these materials is necessary. In this study, a hydrogen quantification system combining volumetric analysis with image analysis was utilized to evaluate the hydrogen uptake and diffusivity of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) under high-pressure conditions. The results indicated that HDPE and NBR samples containing silica filler exhibited hydrogen uptake behavior consistent with Henry’s law, while EPDM samples with carbon black filler demonstrated additional hydrogen adsorption on the carbon black surface. These research results provide a foundation for more precisely evaluating the permeation and leakage behavior of polymers in high-pressure hydrogen environments, and are expected to contribute to the safe and efficient development of hydrogen infrastructure.