Material selection key to preventing degradation in hydrogen CCUS: whitepaper

Material choices for blue hydrogen carbon capture technologies matter. Selecting the right elastomers and thermoplastics can mean the difference between long-term reliability and costly failures in amine-rich environments.

That’s the takeaway from a new whitepaper by Greene Tweed, hosted on h2-view.com, which says for industries relying on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), choosing the right material formulation can mitigate chemical degradation, improve equipment longevity and reduce maintenance costs.

Most CCUS systems currently in operation use chemical absorption with amine-based solvents to capture CO2 from flue gases.

While well-established, efficient and widely used in blue hydrogen production from steam methane reforming (SMR), amines are corrosive and can cause irreversible damage to system components such as seals.

“Chemical effects can account for up to 30% of all field failures observed across multiple industries,” the whitepaper says, “and in the case of aggressive chemistries at elevated temperatures, that failure rate may increase significantly.”

The paper says material selection is key. Most CCUS systems rely on conventional materials like nitrile rubber (NBR), fluoroelastomers (FKM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and standard PEEK. However, prolonged exposure to amine-based solvents can cause swelling, embrittlement and mechanical failure.

As an alternative, Greene Tweed proposes perfluoroelastomers (FFKMs) and cross-linked PEEK, which it says offers superior resistance to chemical attack, increased thermal stability, and longer service life in demanding CCUS environments.

However, the paper says that “not all FFKMs and PEEKs are created equal” – with their formulation and compounding critical to their performance in amine-rich environments.

“Precise material selection ensures optimal performance and reliability in these demanding environments,” it stresses.

The effectiveness of these materials depends on precise formulation – higher fluorine levels in FFKMs enhance chemical resistance while cross-linking in PEEK strengthens its structure to prevent degradation. Without these enhancements, conventional grades remain vulnerable to amine-induced failure.

“As technology for reducing emissions continues to advance, new application requirements will emerge, driving the need for materials, along with increased testing, that can survive in those harsh environments,” the whitepaper concludes.

You can access the full whitepaper here.