For Hydrogen Tests on Plastics, Elastomers and Metals, SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH Relies on ZwickRoell
Case Study
- Customer: SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH
- Location: Hirm, Austria
- Industry: Energy, Public Authority
- Topic: Hydrogen testing for metals, plastics and on elastomers
October 2023
SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH is a testing laboratory service provider specializing in the characterization of plastics, elastomer materials and metals under the influence of hydrogen. For fracture mechanics tests or hollow specimen tests, this emerging company is currently using a Kappa 100 SS-CF creep testing machine and a HA100 servohydraulic testing machine with a 400 bar autoclave from ZwickRoell.
Scioflex Hydrogen GmbH: emerging and specialized on hydrogen testing
The engineering firm SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH focuses on hydrogen testing for metals, plastics and elastomers. The team of experts at the young startup located in Mattersburg, Austria not only has extensive specialist knowledge but also many years of practical experience. “We provide our customers with customized, economical, state-of-the-art solutions,” explains Dr. Bernd Schrittesser, CEO SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH
In the areas of analytics and testing, the company offers results and solutions for new and series products, as well as for special problems. The focus is on material characterization in the field of hydrogen technologies and the development of specifications, the selection and construction of special test arrangements and the interpretation of test results. In addition, SCIOFLEX Hydrogen provides support during meetings with suppliers and customers and has international connections in the science based industry for ongoing new developments. In the areas of quality management and sampling solutions, the company focuses on customized incoming goods inspections to reduce time and costs in the event of complaints or damage. In the consulting and funding services areas, SCIOFLEX Hydrogen also provides support for funding applications, patents and licenses. Furthermore, in the field of training and events, SCIOFLEX Hydrogen offers “standardized training modules, practical on-site training courses and customized seminars for the plastics, elastomer and silicone industries”. Dr. Schrittesser: “We can also support clients with our expertise in the organization of specialist events such as workshops and scientific conferences with highly qualified speakers and potential sponsors.”
The task
Determine material characteristics under application-based conditions
“Hydrogen is becoming increasingly important as a clean and sustainable energy source. Reliable testing and certification of components and materials required for hydrogen products and applications is therefore essential. This is also important to ensure the integrity and safety within this industry,” states SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH CEO, Dr. Bernd Schrittesser. The young startup has set the goal to become an accredited testing laboratory for materials in the field of hydrogen applications. The company guarantees the highest quality, safety and sustainability standards and wants to contribute to the recognition of hydrogen as a reliable and safe energy source.
The challenge the company faces is in determining material characteristics under application-based conditions. The state-of-the-art lies in the removal of the specimens from storage and subsequent assessment of the removed specimen. Dr. Schrittesser: “With the ZwickRoell testing systems, we are able to perfectly characterize the material properties under application conditions. This opens up a completely new field of material characterization under the influence of hydrogen,” and leads to a better understanding of materials as well as more reliable material selection, fracture mechanics and even enables precise lifetime prediction.
“ZwickRoell is our reliable and sustainable partner for hydrogen testing.
We are convinced by ZwickRoell, not only because of the mutual trust and competence of the technical consultants, but also the presented overall concept and the possibilities for expansion. When it comes to materials testing, for us there is only one manufacturer who delivers accurate and reliable results. And that is ZwickRoell.”
Dr. Bernd Schrittesser, CEO SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH
The ZwickRoell solution
Creep testing machine and autoclave
As a testing laboratory service provider, SCIOFLEX Hydrogen performs the following tests:
On metals:
- Slow strain rate tests (SSRT) on hollow specimens
- Tensile tests and fatigue tests on threaded-end specimens
- Determination of fracture mechanics on CT specimens 1/2‘‘
On plastics:
- Tensile tests
- Dynamic mechanical characterization
- Fatigue tests
- Fracture mechanics testing
SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH uses the Kappa 100 SS-CF creep testing machine for a wide range of force and strain controlled creep fatigue tests, also under alternating load, including for the determination of hydrogen embrittlement and for hollow specimen testing. In addition, they use ZwickRoell’s HA100 servohydraulic machine with 400 bar autoclave.
The result
How do SCIOFLEX and their customers benefit from the machines?
The acquired machines can be used over a wide range of frequencies and loads and complement each other in terms of testing speed, from slow (Kappa 100 SS-CF creep testing machine) to fast (HA100 servohydraulic testing machine). With both solutions, it is possible to work in the low strain rate range to enable SSRT (slow strain rate test) investigations and to implement fracture mechanics or fatigue tests up to a frequency of 20 Hz.
Furthermore, through the use of different load cells, load ranges are covered up to 100 kN. Dr. Schrittesser: “And we have the option to add a temperature chamber for measurements in a range of -40 °C to 100 °C.”
ZwickRoell testing machines at SCIOFLEX Hydrogen GmbH
