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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
10:01
In Situ High Pressure Hydrogen Tribological Testing of Common Polymer Materials Used in the Hydrogen Delivery Infrastructure
Published on: March 31, 2018
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Tribological Performance of Grease-Coated Rubber in High-Pressure Hydrogen Storage Applications
Sheng Ye1, Haijie Zhi1, Wenqiang Wu2
1Institute of Advanced Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
Polymers
|January 28, 2026
Summary
High-pressure hydrogen environments cause rubber seal wear. Lubrication significantly reduces friction and wear, ensuring reliable performance in hydrogen storage and refueling systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Tribology
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Rubber seals in high-pressure applications face adhesive wear and leakage risks.
- Reliable sealing is critical for high-pressure hydrogen storage and refueling systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tribological behavior of rubber seals under high-pressure hydrogen.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of lubrication in mitigating wear and friction.
Main Methods:
- Ball-on-disk reciprocating tribology tests were performed using nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and stainless steel.
- Tests were conducted under various conditions: ambient air, 1 MPa H2, 50 MPa H2, 50 MPa N2, and with grease coating.
Main Results:
- Dry sliding resulted in high coefficients of friction (COF) between 1.34-1.44 in air and hydrogen.
- Grease coating drastically reduced steady-state COF to ~0.1 in air and 50 MPa H2.
- Lubrication transformed wear features from severe patterns to smooth indentations, significantly reducing wear volume.
Conclusions:
- A lubricating film is essential for separating metal-rubber contact and preventing stick-slip.
- Lubrication enables low-friction, low-wear, and stable interfaces crucial for rubber seals in high-pressure hydrogen applications.
- This provides a viable engineering solution for enhancing the reliability of rubber seals in hydrogen service.
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