This work demonstrated an experimental testing process to quantitatively test for the effects of pressurized hydrogen on polymeric materials. It was shown that some o-ring materials are susceptible to deleterious property changes. A high-pressure hydrogen testing system with a window was fabricated and was used to soak elastomeric o-rings in hydrogen at temperatures from 22 to 40°C and 13.8 to 16.5 MPa for up to 96 hours. Next, the o-rings were observed through the window during the depressurization. Finally, the o-rings were characterized before and after hydrogen exposure for hardness, weight, tensile strength, and ultimate elongation. The data showed the following four quantitative trends 1) durometer decreased up to 14%, 2) weight was mostly unchanged, 3) tensile strength decreased up to 35%, 4) ultimate elongation decreased up to 55%.
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