“Priority 2030”: Moscow Polytechnic University Working on Pipe Production Technology for Hydrogen Storage
Scientists at Moscow Polytech are working on developing a technology of producing deformed semi-finished products of the Al-Cu-Mn alloy system. It is planned to be used in hydrogen fuel storage and transportation systems. The project is scheduled for three years, and it will be realized using funds from a Kapitsa grant under the “Priority 2030”program.
“Commersant” (Merchant) publishing house talks about this.
“The alloys on the basis of aluminum play important role in many industries, including in the rocket and space one”, explains Doctor of Technical Sciences Alexander Koshmin, “ Our study is aimed at investigation of aluminum alloys, doped by copper, manganese, silicon, magnesium and other elements, the most important is developing the most rational routes of thermal and deformational processing.”
According to the expert, the tanks for liquefied hydrogen fuel of certain spaceships, for example Buran and Chanchgen-5, are made of aluminum alloys of Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Mn doping systems.
Alloying is changing physical and /or chemical features of the main material by means of adding dopants into the composition of materials. The group of alloys Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Mn is distinguished by high level of functional features not only under the room and elevated temperature, but also under cryogenic ones, i.e. from 0.7 up to 120 Kelvin. This is important for liquefied gas storage.
However, doping of aluminum, especially by copper, reduces its corrosion resistance and facilitates the development of hydrogen embrittlement, meaning destruction. Therefore, today it is important to find such a composition of the alloy and the method of production of sheets and pipes from it, which would demonstrate a greater resistance to such phenomena.
Research is carried out using new techniques that are at the intersection of materials technology, physical chemistry, pressure treatment, temperature, and others.
“Semi-finished products of the researched alloys, from which samples are subsequently taken, are manufactured according to the technologies and modes, analogous to real production processes, but taking into account the scale factor. For this crucible melting furnaces, hot and cold rolling mills, heat treatment furnaces are used”, - summarizes Koshmin.
The scientists expect that the obtained data will serve the basis for the development of applied concepts for the production of clad strips and pressed pipes made of aluminum alloys, and they will have increased range of technological and operational characteristics.
