Improving the hydrogen absorption properties of commercial Mg–Zn–Zr alloy

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 1250 - 1256
• Main Authors: Wang, Jian-Yih, Wu, Chen-Yang, Nieh, Jo-Kuang, Lin, Hsin-Chih, Lin, K.M., Bor, Hui-Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activated; Alloying additive; Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Ball milling; Cold rolling; Cycles; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Graphite; Hydrogen; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen-storage material; Magnesium base alloys; ZK60 alloy; Cold rolling; Ball milling; ZK60 alloy; Hydrogen-storage material; Additive; Hydrogen storage; Absorption; Ball mill; Graphite; Desorption; Magnesium Zinc Zirconium Alloys
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.005

Commercial alloy ZK60 (Mg-6 wt%Zn-0.8 wt% Zr) was used as a hydrogen-storage material to study the effect of cold rolling, ball milling, and plus graphite additives on hydrogen-storage characteristics, hydrogen absorption–desorption behavior, and the related microstructural change of the alloy. Experimental results showed that cold-rolled alloy could not be activated easily. Even after ball milling for 20 h and hydrogen absorption–desorption cycling for 10 times, no saturated hydrogen absorption was observed for cold-rolled alloy. In contrast, alloys with 5 wt% graphite additives could be easily activated after the first hydrogen absorption–desorption cycle, and a saturated hydrogen absorption of 6.9 wt% was obtained after absorption–desorption cycling for five times. A hydrogen absorption of 5.52 wt%, equivalent to 80% of the saturated absorption amount, was measured in 5 min, showing a hydrogen absorption rate of 1.104 wt%/min. The sample reached saturation in 30 min.