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Envalior debuts hydrogen vessel UD tape. New UDea EcoPaXX Q20HTC60 offers 15% greater tensile strength and enables up to 20% weight reduction compared to traditional materials. The UDea EcoPaXX Q20HTC60 tape enhances tank performance, reduces costs, and simplifies recycling for hydrogen storage systems. Envalior Envalior, a leader in engineering materials, has introduced a high-performance thermoplastic UD tape, UDea EcoPaXX Q20HTC60, designed to advance the manufacturing of high-pressure all-thermoplastic hydrogen pressure vessels. The company noted this marks a step forward in the development of sustainable materials for hydrogen storage, addressing the growing demand for efficient and eco-friendly energy solutions. The tape, made from polyamide 4.10 and reinforced with 60% by weight of unidirectional (UD) continuous carbon fibers, delivers strength, sustainability, and cost efficiency for hydrogen storage systems, according to the company. The UDea EcoPaXX grade achieves a tensile strength of approximately 2.2 gigapascals (GPa) in the fiber direction - an improvement of more than 15% compared to equivalent materials reinforced with lower-strength carbon fibers. The company said this enhanced strength ensures the tank system's structural integrity and durability under extreme pressure loads during filling and storage. One of the key innovations of this tape is its application method, according to the company. using laser-assisted tape placement, manufacturers can precisely reinforce critical areas of the liner, employing the start-stop principle. Envalior said this approach eliminates non-load-bearing carbon fibers from the composite structure - a feat not possible with the incumbent wet-winding thermoset processing method - resulting in weight and cost savings of up to 20%. The thermoplastic composite material also offers significant sustainability advantages. The company said polyamide 4.10 is partly bio-based, and the thermoplastic composite is fully recyclable, unlike thermosetting epoxy systems, which must be landfilled or incinerated at the end of a pressure vessel's service life. Additionally, the company noted that wrapping the liner with the tape does not require curing or handling of thermoset chemicals, eliminating the need for special occupational safety measures and cleaning protocols. "The new tape completes our broad portfolio of thermoplastic materials for the manufacture of hydrogen pressure vessels, which also includes impact-modified polyamide 6 compounds from our Durethan and Akulon brands for blow molding, injection molding, and rotational molding of tank liners," said Bert Keestra, advanced engineering manager at Envalior. "As a one-stop-shop supplier, Envalior offers all the materials needed to manufacture tank systems made entirely of thermoplastic materials, which makes recycling of the tanks much easier." Another advantage of the UDea EcoPaXX Q20HTC60 tape is its strong material bonding. The company noted that applying a polyamide 4.10-based tape to a liner made from a polyamide 6 compound creates a melt-melt contact at the interface - generated by the laser - forming a monolithic structure with robust material bonding. According to the company, this ensures that the liner cannot deform independently from the composite structure when exposed to mechanical or thermal loads, reducing the risk of buckling and allowing for easier cleaning and maintenance during the pressure vessel's service life. "The tape therefore ensures high strength and stiffness of the tank wrapping and high structural integrity of the entire tank," explained Giacomo Perfetti, sales and business development manager for UDea. "This results in less risk of buckling and allows for easier cleaning and maintenance of the pressure vessels in service life." A step forward. Envalior said its UDea EcoPaXX Q20HTC60 represents a significant step forward in the development of sustainable, high-performance materials for hydrogen storage. As the demand for hydrogen as a clean energy source continues to grow, innovations like this could play a pivotal role in advancing the industry. Formed in 2023 through the merger of Lanxess Performance Materials and DSM Engineering Materials, Envalior employs more than 4,000 people worldwide. The company specializes in developing sustainable and high-performance material solutions for automotive, new mobility, electronics, electrical, and consumer goods markets. David Hutton is a journalist with more than 25 years of experience as an editor and writer with daily newspapers and trade publications. A Kent State University graduate, he was born in Canton, OH, and is a lifelong writer. David started his professional career as a reporter and page designer with the Parkersburg Sentinel in Parkersburg, WV. He returned to his hometown, taking a role with the Massillon Independent, where he rose to the position of managing editor. David's career next took him to October Research Corp., where he worked for trade publications in the real estate settlement services industry before returning to daily newspapers as news editor for The Times-Reporter in Dover-New Philadelphia, OH. While there, he oversaw design of the newspaper and won an Associated Press award for Best Page 1 Design. In 2012, David joined the staff of Plastics News as research analyst. He was responsible for the production of data research reports providing analysis of various segments and end markets of the plastics industry. He also produced content for the publication. In 2019, David joined Ophthalmology Times, serving as managing editor of the publication covering the latest advancements in the ophthalmology industry for physicians and clinicians. David lives in Canton, OH, with his wife, Arionne. They have three grown children, Paige, Chandler and Connor. Their "zoo" also includes two cats, a parrot, and a pug, named Freddie. An avid sports fan, David follows the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Guardians as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also enjoys movies, classic rock, and reading. He enjoys sports cars, and owns a Camaro and a Corvette.

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