MULTILAYER STRUCTURE FOR TRANSPORTING OR STORING HYDROGEN

Abstract

A multilayer structure for storing hydrogen, including, from the inside, at least one sealing layer and at least one composite reinforcement layer, an innermost composite reinforcement layer being welded to an outermost adjacent sealing layer, the sealing layers being a composition predominantly of: at least one semi-crystalline polyamide thermoplastic polymer P1i, i=1 to n, n being the number of sealing layers, excluding an amide polyether block (PEBA), up to 50% by weight of impact modifier relative to the total weight of the composition, up to 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least one of the composite reinforcement layers of a fibrous material in the form of continuous fibers, which is impregnated with a composition predominantly of at least one semi-crystalline polyamide polymer P2j, j=1 to m, m being the number of reinforcement layers.

Claims

1. A multilayer structure intended for transporting, distributing and storing hydrogen, in particular for storing hydrogen, comprising, from the inside to the outside, a sealing layer and at least one composite reinforcement layer, an innermost composite reinforcing layer being welded to said outermost adjacent sealing layer, said sealing layers consisting of a composition comprising: at least one semi-crystalline polyamide thermoplastic polymer P1i, i=1 to n, where n is the number of sealing layers, excluding a polyether block amide (PEBA), up to 50% by weight of impact modifier by weight of impact modifier relative to the total weight of the composition, up to 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition, said at least one polyamide thermoplastic polymer in each sealing layer may be the same or different, and at least one of said composite reinforcement layers consisting of a fibrous material in the form of continuous fibers, which is impregnated with a composition predominantly comprising at least one semi-crystalline polyamide polymer P2j, j=1 to m, m being the number of reinforcement layers, the number of carbon atoms per amide function of the polyamide of said outermost adjacent sealing layer differing from that of the polyamide of said innermost reinforcing layer by at most 20%.

2. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein the Tm, as measured according to ISO 11357-3: 2013, of the polyamide of said outermost adjacent sealing layer differs from that of the polyamide of said innermost reinforcing layer by at most 30° C.

3. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein the Tg, as measured according to ISO 11357-2: 2013, of the polyamide of said outermost adjacent sealing layer differs from that of the polyamide of said innermost reinforcing layer by at most 30° C.

4. The multilayer structure according to claim 2, wherein the Tm and the Tg of the polyamide of said outermost adjacent sealing layer differs from that of the polyamide of the said innermost reinforcing layer of at most 30° C.

5. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein each sealing layer comprises the same type of polyamide.

6. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein each reinforcing layer comprises the same type of polyamide

7. The multilayer structure according to claim 5, wherein each sealing layer comprises the same type of polyamide and each reinforcing layer comprises the same type of polyamide.

8. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein it has a single sealing layer and a single reinforcing layer.

9. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein said polymer P1i is a short-chain aliphatic polyamide having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom up to 9, or long-chained having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom greater than 9, or a semi-aromatic polyamide.

10. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein said polymer P2j is a short-chain aliphatic polyamide having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom up to 9, or long-chained having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom greater than 9, or a semi-aromatic polyamide.

11. The multilayer structure according to claim 9, wherein said polymer P1i is a short-chain aliphatic polyamide having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom up to 9, or long-chained having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom greater than 9, or a semi-aromatic polyamide, and said polymer P2j is a short-chain aliphatic polyamide having an average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom up to 9, or long-chained having a number average number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom greater than 9, or a semi-aromatic polyamide.

12. The multilayer structure according claim 1, wherein the fibrous material of the composite reinforcement layer is selected from glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers or basalt-based fibers, or a mixture thereof.

13. The multilayer structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure further comprises at least one outer layer consisting of a fibrous material made of continuous glass fibers, which is impregnated with a transparent amorphous polymer, said layer being the outermost layer of said multilayer structure.

14. A method for manufacturing a multilayer structure as defined in claim 1, wherein it comprises a step of welding the reinforcing layer onto the sealing layer.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0223] In all the examples, the tanks are obtained by rotational molding of the sealing layer (liner) at a temperature adapted to the nature of the thermoplastic resin used.

[0224] In the case of the composite reinforcement, a fibrous material previously impregnated with the thermoplastic resin (tape) is used. This tape is deposited by filament winding using a robot with a 1500 W laser heater at a speed of 12 m/min and there is no polymerization step.

Example 1 (Counterexample)

[0225] Type IV hydrogen storage tank, composed of an epoxy composite reinforcement (Tg 100° C.) T700SC31E carbon fiber (produced by Toray) and a PA11 sealing layer.

Example 2: Type IV Hydrogen Storage Tank, Composed of a T700SC31E Carbon Fiber PA11 Composite Reinforcement (Produced by Toray) and a PA11 Sealing Layer

[0226] The tanks thus obtained are subjected to cycled pressure tests, varying between 10 and 800 bar. Water is used to apply the pressure. The test is stopped after 10,000 cycles.

[0227] Following this, strips about 1 cm wide are cut from the tank. The adhesion between the liner and the composite is then measured, by initiating a detachment at the interface, and by carrying out a peel test using a traction machine. The peel strength is expressed in N/cm of strip width. In the case of example 1, the detachment is seen for a value of 3 N/cm. In the case of example 2, a force greater than 30 N/cm is reached.