Dr Bernadette Craster Presented at IOM3 Event

TWI Technology Fellow (Polymeric Materials and Ageing through Permeation Processes) , Dr Bernadette Craster (FIMMM) was invited to present at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Elastomer Group Technical Discussion Meeting on 28 March, 2025 in London.

Bernadette’s presentation showcased the state of the art in integrity assessment of elastomers for the energy transition, entitled, ‘The permeation of carbon dioxide or hydrogen into elastomers.’

Because the supply of CO₂ or H₂ may be in anything from a gaseous to a liquid phase, and as it is not always possible for the end user to know the original and current chemical composition of an elastomer, it can create uncertainty for lifetime extension.

The presentation introduced methods for the exposure of sheet and O-ring elastomers such as Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber and Fluoroelastomer to supercritical CO₂, as well as the assessment of the materials for weight gain, swelling, barrier performance, mechanical properties, and trapped CO₂. Suggestions were made for control of the boundary conditions especially where impurities were present. Damage mechanisms from rapid gas decompression processes were shown. Parallels were then drawn with data in the literature for the alteration in elastomers on exposure to hydrogen before suggestions for further study areas were outlined.

The Technical Discussion Meeting brought together hundreds of people both in-person and remotely to explore how elastomers are supporting sustainability of transport, energy generation and infrastructure.

Other presentations on the day included:

• Welcome address: Prof James Busfield, Chair of the IOM3 Elastomer Group
• Energy transition in heavy vehicle sector and its consequences for the use of rubber materials: Dr Martin Bellander, Technical Manager Elastomers, Scania CV AB, Södertälje, Sweden
• The use of polymer materials in infrastructure to transport carbon dioxide and hydrogen: Dr Ben Alcock, Research Manager, SINTEF Industry
• ZEON Elastomers in BEV Powertrain and Drivetrain and new challenges towards compatibility regarding new eFluids that are used in these systems: Dr Björn Nelson, Technical Manager Europe, ZEON
• The application of Dielectric Elastomer Generation in wave energy convertors:Tom Mackay, Engineer, Tension Technology International Ltd / Dr Ieuan Collins, Innovation Engineer, Wave Energy Scotland

About the IOM3 Elastomer Group

Formerly known as the ‘Rubber in Engineering Group (RIEG),’ the IOM3’s Elastomer Group organises regular webinars, technical discussion meetings and conferences to develop a broader understanding of the behaviour of elastomers and elastomer composites. This includes examining the use of elastomers in engineering design to successfully exploit their properties while also promoting the use of sustainable elastomers in the circular economy.