Within the current architecture of fuel cell automobiles, polymers are applied in various places such as seals in the form of O-rings or polymer liners. Upon sustained contact with hydrogen, different aging processes can occur, which potentially lead to hydrogen leakage and, thus, pose significant security risks. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to develop a set of obligatory specifications for the used materials, potentially resulting in standardization guidelines or legal regulations for the automobile industry.
In this context, the project “Compatibility of Polymers for Fuel Cell Automobiles” was proceeded. For this, different sample types were selected, subjected to hydrogen aging treatment and subsequently characterized with different analytical methods.
The conducted study presents an overview about possible testing procedures and their applicability for the development of standardization guidelines and yields information about effects occurring after accelerated hydrogen aging treatments.