Cryogenic Composites Study

Introduction

Hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels we have — but storing it is a huge challenge. To keep hydrogen in liquid form, it must be cooled to -253°C. At these extreme temperatures, normal materials become brittle and fail. My dissertation explored whether advanced composite materials could withstand these conditions, offering safer and lighter storage tanks for hydrogen energy.

Why It Matters

Methodology

I studied different fibre-reinforced composite architectures, testing how they performed under simulated cryogenic conditions. This involved:

• Researching current materials and structural configurations.
• Running cryogenic experiments on composite samples and mechanical tests to evaluate performance.
• Comparing strength, flexibility, and resistance to cracking — concluding with statistical analysis to verify hypotheses.

Key Findings

• Some composites retained strength even in cryogenic conditions, showing increased ultimate tensile strength in 3D architectures.
• 2D laminate composites showed stable Young’s modulus but decreased ductility at low temperatures.
• Both 3D woven layer-to-layer and 2D laminate composites became more brittle under cryogenic exposure.
• Thermal conductivity of the 3D woven composite was lower than that of the 2D laminate composite.

These findings suggest composites could be viable materials for hydrogen storage tanks, but further real-world testing is needed.

Conclusion

My research shows that with the right design, composite materials may help make hydrogen storage safer and more efficient. This could play a small but crucial role in transitioning to cleaner energy systems.