In-situ X-ray computed tomography of decompression failure in a rubber exposed to high-pressure gas

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 70; pp. 255 - 262
• Main Authors: Castagnet, Sylvie, Mellier, David, Nait-Ali, Azdine, Benoit, Guillaume
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barking Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2018; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustics; Automatic; Biomechanics; Cavitation; Cavity field; Chemical Sciences; Computation; Computed tomography; Electric power; Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; EPDM; Exposure; Fluid mechanics; Holes; Hydrogen; Material chemistry; Materials and structures in mechanics; Mathematical Physics; Mechanics; Physics; Pictures; Polymers; Pressure chambers; Quantum Physics; Reactive fluid environment; Representative volume element (RVE); Rubber; Thermics; Tomography; Vibrations; EPDM; Hydrogen; Cavity field; Cavitation; Representative volume element (RVE)
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2018.07.017

Cavitation is a damage process often observed during or after pressure release in polymers exposed to high-pressure diffusive gases. Only a few characterizations of the phenomenon have been reported in the literature, all of them being based on 2D pictures of the sample taken after removal from the pressure chamber or, more recently, inside the chamber during pressure release. This study displays the first time-resolved 3D imaging of decompression failure in high-pressure gas exposed polymers, obtained from in-situ X-ray computed tomography. New data were provided about the out-of-plane shape and volume distribution of cavities. It allowed rigorous estimation of a Morphological Representative Volume Element for the cavity field. The bias resulting from the former 2D-projection methods could be discussed. •Time-resolved 3D views of decompression failure in rubbers are reported for the first time.•An EPDM, exposed to high-pressure hydrogen, was tracked by in-situ computed tomography.•Novel and quantitative data were provided about the out-of-plane morphology and volume distribution of cavities.•Some bias, induced by 2D projection in the former visible light transmission methods, were discussed.•The experiment opens new routes for a better understanding and accurate quantification of decompression failure.