Elastomeric seals in high-pressure gas environments, particularly hydrogen and CO2, can be damaged even when the material is chemically compatible. The cause is often related to the phenomenon of rapid gas decompression (RGD).
At high pressures, gas penetrates the seal. When the pressure decreases rapidly, the trapped gas expands and creates bubbles or cracks the seal from the inside. According to Greene Tweed, hydrogen has high permeability, so when combined with high pressure, RGD becomes a real problem. Additionally, a study by the US Department of Energy notes that hydrogen saturation in seal materials at high temperatures and pressures changes the size and mechanical properties of the seal.
Greene Tweed, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, US Department of Energy (Hydrogen Program). The article was compiled and reinterpreted by SNS-VN; brand names belong to their owners.