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Hydrogen : a déjà vu moment for Arlon 3000XT ®
The key to new challenges is sometimes hidden in the past . Such is the case with equipment and processes needed to produce , store , and transport hydrogen . A major hurdle facing those looking to upgrade their equipment or design new equipment is : lack of polymer materials capable of withstanding the extreme challenges inherent to the hydrogen environment . Enter Arlon 3000XT ® – the world ’ s first and only cross-linked PEEK-based polymer developed in 2014 by Greene Tweed that enabled oil and gas companies to move to deeper reserves with increasingly higher temperatures and pressures . Its enhanced versions are now ready to take on the complex demands of hydrogen technology and future-proof equipment , from fuel cells and electrolyzers to compressors and valves .
By Pragati Verma , Greene Tweed
Power of Adaptation
“ Industry needs have always driven new material and product development at Greene Tweed . We developed Arlon 3000XT ® when existing carbonfilled PEEK would no longer work for the extreme environments of oilfield applications . Challenges raised by hydrogen have now presented us with another opportunity to innovate ,” says Technology Manager Kerry Drake , Ph . D .
Consider electrolyzers , for instance . To generate hydrogen from an electrochemical reaction between water and electricity , they need higher operating temperatures to function in an efficient and cost-effective manner . In addition , their components are exposed to aggressive chemicals . Pointing out that existing polymers and composites may fall short of meeting these demands , Kerry asserts that the chemical resistance improvement of Arlon 3000XT ® over other high-performance polymers is ideal for components such as frames or gaskets . He explains why : “ During development , we tested chemical compatibility in strong acids , bases , and other aggressive aqueous chemistries . It showed excellent performance at 200 ° C / 392 ° F for extended periods . For electrolyzers , in some cases , uncross-linked PEEK or filled PEEK doesn ’ t have acceptable performance . However , we
42 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 11 | August 2023