Material Testing

This white paper addresses the limitations of conventional ageing tests due to their long duration, caused by increasing demands on the longevity of plastic components. It highlights modern, accelerated testing methods such as the time-temperature superposition principle and high-pressure autoclave testing, which can be used to efficiently predict the long-term performance of plastics, with a particular focus on thermo-oxidative degradation.

The role of hydrogen in the energy transition and the challenges of using steel components in hydrogen applications are also discussed. Hydrogen embrittlement, in which hydrogen alters the microstructure of steel and leads to potential failures, is a key issue and is influenced by factors such as material quality, surface condition and environment. Test methods such as ageing in high-pressure hydrogen atmospheres and long-term tensile tests help to evaluate the safety and durability of steel under the influence of hydrogen. Advanced testing facilities such as Berghof's reactors support these evaluations.