Test laboratory
Laboratory
Mechanical characterization under realistic pressurized-hydrogen conditions—measured precisely and evaluated scientifically.
Innovative test center for hydrogen material testing
Our state-of-the-art test center specializes in material testing and validation of materials for use in hydrogen environments. We support our customers in testing materials under real conditions and analyzing safety-relevant properties - for maximum reliability and safety in hydrogen applications.
Scientific equipment
ZwickRoell HA100 with hydrogen autoclave - "The Hydro-Ripper"
The ZwickRoell HA100 with integrated 400-bar hydrogen autoclave is the heart of our state-of-the-art hydrogen technology test center. This advanced testing system for the mechanical characterization of materials under realistic hydrogen conditions is one of the most modern of its kind - and is only in use three times in the whole of Europe. We thus offer our customers a unique infrastructure for safe and precise material testing under pressurized hydrogen. The facility enables
Capabilities
- Tensile tests and fatigue tests on threaded steel specimens
- Fracture mechanics tests on CT specimens (½") under pressurized hydrogen
- Analysis of crack propagation, material failure and deformation behavior under extreme operating conditions
- Validation of new materials
- Development of hydrogen-safe components
- Long-term evaluation of material durability in hydrogen environments
Technical specifications
- Hydrogen autoclave up to 400 bar
- Threaded steel and ½″ CT specimens
- Closed force flow with high-precision sensor technology
Hydrogen applications
With its unique combination of pressurized hydrogen environment, precision measurement and variable test methodology, the ZwickRoell HA100 provides crucial test data for the development of innovative hydrogen technologies. It supports manufacturers, research institutes and system developers in specifically evaluating and optimizing the safety and performance of new materials.
Scientific equipment
Kappa 100 SS-CF creep testing machine
The Kappa 100 SS-CF creep testing machine is a highly specialized system for materials testing under extreme load and environmental conditions. It has been specially developed for hollow specimen testing and offers unique possibilities for evaluating material behavior under long-term stress and internal pressure - a crucial aspect in the development of components for hydrogen systems and other high-pressure applications. The Kappa 100 SS-CF enables:
Capabilities
- Slow Strain Rate Tests (SSRT) with extremely low strain rates from 10-⁵ s-¹ to 10-⁷ s-¹
- Creep tensile tests to analyze creep behavior under constant load
- Loads of up to 100 kN for high-strength materials
- Hydrogen pipes and tank systems
- Pipeline components
- High-pressure valves and connections
- Material development in the hydrogen environment
- Long-term evaluation of metallic materials
- Validation of safety-critical components
Technical specifications
- Strain rates from 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ to 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹
- Test loads up to 100 kN
- Hollow-specimen internal pressure up to 200 bar
Hydrogen applications
The Kappa 100 SS-CF combines high-precision force measurement with variable load control. It is ideal for:
Scientific equipment
Nanoindenter ZHN-S
Nanoindenters are high-precision measuring systems fordetermining the mechanical properties of materials through controlled surface penetration. With their ability to precisely measure hardness, modulus of elasticity and other parameters in the micro to nano range, they are among the most important analysis tools in research and industrial materials development. Using nanoindenters:
Capabilities
- Piezoelectric actuators for extremely fine, controlled movements
- Capacitive force sensors for high-precision force measurement
- Determination of the yield point
- E-modulus measurements (modulus of elasticity)
- Mechanical mapping of large sample areas
- Fatigue tests and creep behavior
- Micro tensile and compression tests
Technical specifications
- Indentation forces from 0.05 mN to 20,000 mN
- Piezoelectric actuators and capacitive force sensors
- Up to 10 tests per minute
Hydrogen applications
Whether for material development, quality control or the examination of layers, coatings and thin films: nanoindenters provide precise data on mechanical performance and make a decisive contribution to material optimization and product development.
Scientific equipment
Scanning electron microscope Tescan Vega II with Oxford EDX
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM ) enables extremely high magnifications that far exceed the capabilities of conventional light microscopes. The use of a finely focused electron beam, which scans the sample surface in a vacuum, produces high-resolution images and various analysis signals - ideal for the microscopic examination of materials at micro and nano level.
Capabilities
- High-resolution surface and cross-section analyses
- Damage analysis and fracture surface investigations
- EDX elemental analysis for rapid material characterization
- Metals and metal alloys
- Ceramic materials
- Polymers and composite materials
- Coatings and microstructures
Technical specifications
- Tescan Vega II with Oxford EDX detector
- High-resolution SEM imaging under vacuum
- Elemental analysis and fractography at micro and nano scale
Hydrogen applications
The versatility of SEM makes it an indispensable tool in materials testing, quality control, failure analysis and R&D.