Within H2MAT+ project AZTERLAN is working on the design, development and evaluation of metallic materials and hybrid structures for the storage, transport and distribution of hydrogen in safe, durable conditions that will also allow minimising the weight of critical components involved in these applications. The project also addresses the detailed analysis of the degradation mechanisms of metallic materials in environments where hydrogen is present. These materials are enabling tools for the technological and sustainable advance of sectors linked to energy production and distribution (off-shore wind, oil & gas, etc.), together with the metal-mechanical transformation industry.
The absorption of hydrogen by metallic materials in contact with this element endangers the functionality and integrity of metallic components and structures. It is necessary to develop materials that are more resistant to the combined effects of corrosion, mechanical loads and hydrogen embrittlement phenomena to promote its use as a sustainable source of energy, facilitating the transition towards an hydrogen economy from the technological mastery of the multiple challenges associated with it. As explained by Fernando Santos, head of the Special Materials and Processes research line at AZTERLAN, “in order to develop new metallic alloys or hybrid structures that offer good performance in direct contact with hydrogen, it is necessary to understand the phenomena that, at a microstructural level, condition the behaviour of materials directly interacting with hydrogen or working in hydrogen-rich environmnents”.
The selection of suitable materials to be used in a system or application in which hydrogen is present involves several factors, such as: compatibility with hydrogen (phenomena of embrittlement, porosity, attack, permeation and/or diffusion of hydrogen), compatibility with other materials, properties and performance depending on the conditions of use (effects of changes in temperature and pressure on ductility and expansion/compression), compatibility with environmental conditions and detailed analysis of potential failure modes in service. Likewise, the feasibility to be transformed, their weldability, their cost and the availability of these materials (which sometimes carry alloying elements considered critical in the supply chain) are important factors.
This significant research is being performed within the framework of the H2MAT+ project, in which “AZTERLAN directs its capabilities towards the development of new materials to be used for applications to store, transport and distribute hydrogen under the required safety conditions by using materials capable of mitigating hydrogen embrittlement phenomena with additional properties of mechanical strength and corrosion resistance that allow their useful life to be extended, while minimizing the weight of components and structures”. With this motivation, the Technology Centre specialized in metallurgy focuses on the development and advanced characterization of two types of materials: those that can be used to work with and contain hydrogen in a gaseous state (for which multi-layer structures are intended to be developed), and those that will be used to store and/or transport hydrogen in a solid state, in this case, focusing on high entropy alloys or HEA.
To this end, the AZTERLAN team is also investigating the behaviour of multilayer steel/aluminium metal composites in terms of mechanical behaviour, embrittlement and hydrogen permeation. These multilayer composites will be manufactured using a novel immersion co-molding technique that originated in the Elkartek HIPERION II project, aimed at the development of technologies for space exploration. Likewise, potential HEAs will be studied that have as a fundamental characteristic the capacity to store hydrogen in the form of hydrides, for which detailed studies of hydrogen adsorption and desorption capacity will be carried out.
Materials more resistant to hydrogen embrittlement phenomena aimed at applications in the off-shore wind sector
In addition to their use for the storage, transport and distribution of hydrogen, the development of materials that are more resistant to hydrogen-rich environments is also a challenge for other applications related to renewable energies. A specific field is the offshore wind energy sector, in which components and structures are exposed to marine aquatic environments where the combined effect of the presence of hydrogen due to electrochemical reactions of water decomposition and the high saline concentration favor their deterioration and the development of multiple failure mechanisms. The H2MAT+ consortium also focuses part of its research effort on the development of new alloys for this application environment.
“Although H2MAT+ has come to follow the work and the advances achieved within H2MAT (Elkartek 2022-2023), the project continues to adapt to the challenges and needs of the industry in regards to hydrogen. The offshore wind energy sector faces important challenges in the field of materials, some of them associated with the durability of submerged components that also have to respond to important mechanical demands.” The incorporation of the company VMI (Vicinay Marine Innovation) in the project consortium reinforces this strategic commitment.
AZTERLAN researchers Fernando Santos, Mikel Rouco and Enara Mardaras with the rest of participants at H2MAT+ project at the project launch meeting. Source: Basque Energy Cluster
The H2MAT+ consortium is made up of Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa (project leader), UPV/EHU, the BRTA member technology centres Azterlan, Ceit and Tecnalia, the business R&D units Tubacex Innovación and Vicinay Marine Innovación, and the Basque Energy Cluster. This ambitious project is funded by the Elkartek programme (KK_2024_00021) of the Basque Government.
