Quentin GARDAVAUD : "Contribution to the study of the influence of pressure parameters on elastomers subjected to rapid hydrogen decompression"

Abstract : It has been reported that rapid decompression in high-pressure hydrogen systems can degrade elastomers, through porosity or cracking. The origin of degradation is the saturation of the material by hydrogen diffusion. When high-pressure is applied until saturation is reached, and then depressurized rapidly, an unbalance in hydrogen concentration occurs between the inside and outside of the material. This leads to degradations in the form of microscopic cavities or macroscopic cracks, sometimes blistering the elastomer surface. Degradations depend on the pressure loading applied.
In this thesis, we investigate the impact of pressure parameters on these degradations and on tensile properties, on elastomers that have undergone rapid decompression. The three parameters studied are maximum pressure, saturation time and decompression time. To this end, a chamber was developed for pressurizing polymer specimens up to 700 bar of hydrogen. Two elastomer grades (EPDM and NBR) were selected. First, their mechanical and diffusion properties were characterized. [...]

Jury Composition:

1. Soulat, Damien, Professeur d’Université, ENSAIT-Université de Lille, Reporter

Vivet, Alexandre Professeur d’Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Reporteur

1. Perreux, Dominique Professeur d’Université, Université de Franche-Comté, Reviewer
2. Vieille, Benoît, Professeur d’Université, INSA Rouen Normandie, Reviewer
3. Thiébaud, Frédéric Professeur d’Université, Université de Franche-Comté, PhD Director
4. Melnichuk, Maximiliano Docteur Ingénieur, Conicet, Argentine -Mahytec Dole, Co-PhD Director

Localization : Aphithéâtre JJ Gagnepain, Bâtiment TEMIS, 15B, Avenue des Montboucons, 25000 Besançon