Work

Three-channel, time-effective and real-time in situ integrated system for hydrogen permeation characterization in polymeric materials via atmospheric-pressure manometric measurement and unsteady-state optimization analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ensuring the safety of high-pressure hydrogen infrastructure requires the precise characterization of hydrogen transport in polymer materials. Conventional differential pressure methods, such as ISO 15105-1, are often limited by complex high-vacuum requirements and prolonged stabilization periods needed to reach a steady-state flux. In this study, we present a three-channel, time-effective and real-time in situ integrated platform that couples high-resolution manometric sensors with a Nelder–Mead simplex nonlinear optimization framework for measurements at atmospheric pressure. Unlike traditional ex situ approaches that characterize transport properties only after decompression, the developed integrated platform enables the continuous monitoring of permeation dynamics under sustained high-pressure exposure, accurately reproducing actual operating conditions. The core innovation lies in the direct extraction of intrinsic transport parameters—permeability ( P ), diffusivity ( D ), and solubility ( S )—from unsteady-state (transient) pressure responses. By leveraging the initial permeation phase, the system effectively bypasses the need for high-vacuum evacuation and prolonged steady-state stabilization, reducing the total measurement time by more than three-fold compared to conventional protocols. Validation using LDPE and HDPE specimens confirmed that the extracted parameters are intrinsic material properties independent of specimen geometry, with hydrogen uptake strictly adhering to Henry’s Law. The system ensures metrological traceability by generating automated evaluation reports with a 0.4 % Figure of Merit (FOM) and an expanded uncertainty for permeability of 9.1 % at a 95 % confidence level. This physics-based transient methodology provides a transformative, high-throughput tool for the accelerated assessment of polymer compatibility in demanding high-pressure hydrogen environments.

Source: Current Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1016/j.cap.2026.10.011

Authors: Ji Hun Lee, Byeong-Lyul Choi, Jae Kap Jung

Institutions: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Korea University of Science and Technology, Korea University

Language: English

Topic: Membrane Separation and Gas Transport

Subfield: Filtration and Separation

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,640