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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.

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

  • 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

The ZwickRoell HA100 works in a closed force flow and relies on high-precision sensor technology. Thanks to the ability to carry out tests under variable loads and realistic operating parameters, the system is ideal for:

  • Validation of new materials
  • Development of hydrogen-safe components
  • Long-term evaluation of material durability in hydrogen environments

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.

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:

  • 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

These tests provide essential data on the reliability and service life of materials, especially in safety-critical applications.

A key feature is the ability to perform compression tests on hollow specimens with an internal pressure of up to 200 bar. This allows mechanical properties and failure behavior to be precisely investigated under realistic pressure conditions - ideal for use in:

  • Hydrogen pipes and tank systems
  • Pipeline components
  • High-pressure valves and connections

The Kappa 100 SS-CF combines high-precision force measurement with variable load control. It is ideal for:

  • Material development in the hydrogen environment
  • Long-term evaluation of metallic materials
  • Validation of safety-critical components

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:

  • Piezoelectric actuators for extremely fine, controlled movements
  • Capacitive force sensors for high-precision force measurement

This combination ensures stable, repeatable and fast measurements, even with minimal indentation forces from 0.05 mN up to 20,000 mN. Typical applications and tests:

  • 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

With a measurement frequency of up to 10 tests per minute, nanoindenters enable fast and comprehensive mapping of mechanical properties - ideal for detecting inhomogeneities or material defects.

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.

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.

Our laboratory works with the modern SEM system Tescan Vega II, which is equipped with an integrated Oxford EDX detector (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). This system offers:

  • High-resolution surface and cross-section analyses
  • Damage analysis and fracture surface investigations
  • EDX elemental analysis for rapid material characterization

Thanks to the combination of SEM imaging and chemical analysis, the system is ideal for evaluating materials under hydrogen stress, e.g. to identify the causes of cracks, corrosion mechanisms or embrittlement effects.

Scanning electron microscopy is used for a wide range of materials, including

  • Metals and metal alloys
  • Ceramic materials
  • Polymers and composite materials
  • Coatings and microstructures

The versatility of SEM makes it an indispensable tool in materials testing, quality control, failure analysis and R&D.