Effect of temperature and hydrogen exposure on the mechanical response of filled elastomers: A study on acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers filled with carbon black

Filled elastomers are widely used in components within the gas infrastructures. Currently, it is necessary to evaluate their suitability to harsh conditions of temperature and pressure required by the hydrogen applications. The effect of the environmental conditions on the material mechanical response (up to fracture) has been evaluated, by performing tests at different temperatures or under pressurized hydrogen, on three carbon black-filled acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers. With the increase of temperature, the fracture resistance resulted to decrease and the crack advancement rate increased. If the gas pressure applied during testing increases, the fracture toughness evaluated at the onset of unstable crack propagation increases while the crack advancement rate decreases. Some effects related to the gas type (hydrogen or nitrogen) were also observed. Moreover, if the material was previously exposed to pressurized hydrogen, no effects on the mechanical response were observed. • The effect of environment on mechanical behaviour of elastomers was evaluated. • With increasing temperature, the fracture resistance decreased. • If the material was previously exposed to hydrogen, no effects were observed. • The fracture behaviour was affected by the applied gas pressure during testing. • The gas type also had some effects on the material fracture behaviour.