Hydrogen Gas Seal Elastomer Composite Against Swelling and Blistering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas seal members in high-pressure hydrogen devices face issues with swelling destruction and blister destruction due to high-pressure hydrogen environments, where existing solutions do not adequately address durability under these conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cross-linked product of an elastomer composition is used, comprising an elastomer and fibrous carbon nanostructures, where the hydrogen diffusion coefficients satisfy the relationship 0.7 < D2/D1 < 1.0, to reduce the occurrence of swelling and blister destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional elastomer compositions are used for gas seal members in high-pressure hydrogen devices, then the gas seal members can be manufactured with standard materials, but they suffer from swelling destruction and blister destruction under high-pressure hydrogen conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining elastomer with fibrous carbon nanostructures (such as carbon nanotubes or graphene nanofibers) to create a cross-linked composite product. This composite structure provides both the elasticity needed for sealing and the mechanical strength to resist swelling and blister destruction under high-pressure hydrogen conditions, directly resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and physical parameters of the elastomer by introducing cross-linking structures and incorporating fibrous carbon nanostructures. These parameter changes modify the material's resistance to hydrogen permeation and swelling, enabling the gas seal member to maintain durability under high-pressure hydrogen conditions while preventing swelling destruction and blister destruction.
2Reliability
If the gas seal member is designed to resist high-pressure hydrogen environments, then durability is improved, but the complexity of material composition and cross-linking requirements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials comprising elastomer and fibrous carbon nanostructures with specific cross-linking. While this improves durability, the complexity is managed by specifying particular components and their ratios, making the complex material system reproducible and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls material parameter changes through defined cross-linking degrees and specific compositions (e.g., elastomer-to-carbon nanostructure ratios). By parameterizing the complexity, the patent makes the complex material system controllable and manufacturable while maintaining high durability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fibrous carbon nanostructures are added to the elastomer composition, then swelling and blister destruction are reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the hydrogen diffusion coefficients (D1 and D2) as key parameters to ensure D2/D1 is between 0.7 and 1.0. This parameter control reduces swelling and blister destruction, though it increases manufacturing precision requirements for achieving the specific diffusion coefficient ratio through controlled cross-linking and composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of fibrous carbon nanostructures in the composite material provides a structural framework that naturally limits hydrogen diffusion pathways. This reduces the occurrence of swelling and blister destruction, but requires precise manufacturing control to achieve the optimal distribution and orientation of these nanostructures for the desired diffusion coefficient ratio.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the occurrence of swelling and blister destruction in gas seal members, ensuring durability and integrity under high-pressure hydrogen conditions, thereby enhancing the performance of high-pressure hydrogen devices.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogen diffusion coefficient D1 of a cross-linked product of an elastomer component including an elastomer and a hydrogen diffusion coefficient D2 of the cross-linked product of the elastomer composition satisfy the relationship 0.7 < D2/D1 < 1.0
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Disclosed is a gas seal member for high-pressure hydrogen device with sufficiently reduced occurrence of both swelling destruction and blister destruction. The gas seal member is formed of a cross-linked product of an elastomer composition which comprises an elastomer and fibrous carbon nanostructures, wherein a hydrogen diffusion coefficient D1 of a cross-linked product of an elastomer component including the elastomer and a hydrogen diffusion coefficient D2 of the cross-linked product of the elastomer composition satisfy the relationship 0.7 < D2/D1 < 1.0.