TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of high-pressure hydrogen exposure on wear of polytetrafluoroethylene sliding against stainless steel
AU - Nakashima, K.
AU - Yamaguchi, A.
AU - Kurono, Y.
AU - Sawae, Yoshinori
AU - Murakami, T.
AU - Sugimura, Joichi
PY - 2010/1/1
Y1 - 2010/1/1
N2 - Mechanical components in hydrogen energy systems, such as a fuel cell vehicle and related infrastructures, will operate in high-purity hydrogen. Especially, some seals and valves in fuel cell vehicles should articulate against metal counterface within a pressurized hydrogen gas. However, the effect of high-pressure hydrogen gas on tribological behaviour of materials used in sliding surfaces has not been identified yet. In this study, unfilled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) pins and 316L austenitic stainless-steel discs were exposed to high-pressure hydrogen gas and then the chemical and physical changes in their surface and the tribological characteristics were investigated. The results of an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer analysis of the exposed stainless-steel surface indicated that metal oxides in the passive surface layer of stainless steel can be reduced significantly during the high-pressure hydrogen exposure. Increased metal contents of the stainless surface resulted in enhanced metal fluoride formation and subsequent development of a PTFE transfer film. Consequently, the exposed PTFE specimens showed lower specific wear rate when compared to the unexposed specimen.
AB - Mechanical components in hydrogen energy systems, such as a fuel cell vehicle and related infrastructures, will operate in high-purity hydrogen. Especially, some seals and valves in fuel cell vehicles should articulate against metal counterface within a pressurized hydrogen gas. However, the effect of high-pressure hydrogen gas on tribological behaviour of materials used in sliding surfaces has not been identified yet. In this study, unfilled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) pins and 316L austenitic stainless-steel discs were exposed to high-pressure hydrogen gas and then the chemical and physical changes in their surface and the tribological characteristics were investigated. The results of an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer analysis of the exposed stainless-steel surface indicated that metal oxides in the passive surface layer of stainless steel can be reduced significantly during the high-pressure hydrogen exposure. Increased metal contents of the stainless surface resulted in enhanced metal fluoride formation and subsequent development of a PTFE transfer film. Consequently, the exposed PTFE specimens showed lower specific wear rate when compared to the unexposed specimen.
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U2 - 10.1243/13506501JET642
DO - 10.1243/13506501JET642
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77949278737
SN - 1350-6501
VL - 224
SP - 285
EP - 292
JO - Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
JF - Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
IS - 3
ER -