Evaluating the potential of thermoplastic polymers for cryogenic sealing applications: strain rate and temperature effects
Evaluating the potential of thermoplastic polymers for cryogenic sealing applications: strain rate and temperature effects
Hydrogen in liquid or cryogenic compressed form is revolutionising various industries as fuel, and thermoplastic polymers can be a suitable alternative to metal seals in cryogenic hydrogen fuel systems. This paper measured the tensile properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of three thermoplastics: PTFE, PEEK and UHMWPE at room temperature (RT), 77 Kelvin (K) and 20 K at four strain rates. Further microscopic analysis was conducted to understand the failure mechanisms under the above conditions. The tensile strength of each polymer increased when the temperature was reduced from RT to 77 K and decreased from 77 K to 20 K. Young's modulus increased, and the strain at failure decreased with decreasing temperature. Finally, PEEK was found less contraction than PTFE and UHMWPE at 20 K, in agreement with its highest glass transition temperature of the three polymers, which is normally a good indicator in selecting suitable sealing materials in cryogenic hydrogen fuel systems.
Cryogenic temperature, Scanning electron microscope, Strain rate, Tensile properties, Thermal expansion coefficient, Thermoplastic polymer
279-294
Wang, Zhenzhou
794c41fe-f5da-4da4-8f1c-c7beb06f87eb
Bailey, Wendell
c356b2e3-a783-4b4c-8c7b-521696d3b37c
Song, Junyao
84f5e11f-88ab-430e-974d-d7bcc1646e05
Huang, Lingfeng
62d48d12-4b22-4673-bc03-88f69a2eea7e
Yang, Yifeng
4cac858a-e0c0-4174-a839-05ca394fc51f
31 March 2025
Wang, Zhenzhou
794c41fe-f5da-4da4-8f1c-c7beb06f87eb
Bailey, Wendell
c356b2e3-a783-4b4c-8c7b-521696d3b37c
Song, Junyao
84f5e11f-88ab-430e-974d-d7bcc1646e05
Huang, Lingfeng
62d48d12-4b22-4673-bc03-88f69a2eea7e
Yang, Yifeng
4cac858a-e0c0-4174-a839-05ca394fc51f
Wang, Zhenzhou, Bailey, Wendell, Song, Junyao, Huang, Lingfeng and Yang, Yifeng
(2025)
Evaluating the potential of thermoplastic polymers for cryogenic sealing applications: strain rate and temperature effects.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 114, .
(doi:10.48550/arXiv.2406.01165).
Abstract
Hydrogen in liquid or cryogenic compressed form is revolutionising various industries as fuel, and thermoplastic polymers can be a suitable alternative to metal seals in cryogenic hydrogen fuel systems. This paper measured the tensile properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of three thermoplastics: PTFE, PEEK and UHMWPE at room temperature (RT), 77 Kelvin (K) and 20 K at four strain rates. Further microscopic analysis was conducted to understand the failure mechanisms under the above conditions. The tensile strength of each polymer increased when the temperature was reduced from RT to 77 K and decreased from 77 K to 20 K. Young's modulus increased, and the strain at failure decreased with decreasing temperature. Finally, PEEK was found less contraction than PTFE and UHMWPE at 20 K, in agreement with its highest glass transition temperature of the three polymers, which is normally a good indicator in selecting suitable sealing materials in cryogenic hydrogen fuel systems.
Text
2406.01165v1
- Author's Original
Text
Polymer Paper - Final
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 February 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 March 2025
Published date: 31 March 2025
Keywords:
Cryogenic temperature, Scanning electron microscope, Strain rate, Tensile properties, Thermal expansion coefficient, Thermoplastic polymer
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 497250
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/497250
ISSN: 0360-3199
PURE UUID: 8a26e766-5e7d-4208-aff9-7ca145396097
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Date deposited: 16 Jan 2025 17:48
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 01:37
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Contributors
Author:
Zhenzhou Wang
Author:
Junyao Song
Author:
Lingfeng Huang
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