Overview
Hydrogen is experiencing an unprecedented momentum, driven by climate-friendly and energy-safety policies. However, due to its peculiar physical-chemical properties, material compatibility issues arise: hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen permeation, mechanical integrity at cryogenic temperatures and water vapour corrosion.
For this course, Cranfield University has brought together a range of experts in this constantly evolving field to deliver a focussed 4-day course. This course will focus on providing delegates with both practical and experimental knowledge on the fundamental material challenges faced by all components in the hydrogen supply chain: production, storage & distribution, and use.
Targeted theoretical sessions will tackle in details aspects of hydrogen transport, embrittlement, permeation, material properties at cryogenic temperatures, oxidation in high levels of water vapour and material challenges in electrolysis and fuel cells.
Course Structure
The course is delivered over 4 days and is mostly in the form of lectures and lab activities. Group work is also used to enable discussions among the participants. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.
The course will be delivered by lecturers experienced in Hydrogen and related material challenges and will consist of lectures and lab experience to provide delegates with both theoretical and practical understanding of Hydrogen interaction with materials.
What you will learn
This course will provide delegates with:
Knowledge of Hydrogen physical-chemical properties and their relation to material challenges: mechanical properties variation at cryogenic temperatures, embrittlement, permeation, and water vapour corrosion.
An understanding of experimental methods and testing standards to evaluate Hydrogen-material interaction, including practical experience with electrochemical cathodic charging.
Material challenges in hydrogen production, storage & transportation and use technologies and related challenges.
An understanding of the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier in a decarbonised society.
Core content:
- Physics of hydrogen and fundamentals of hydrogen transport.
- Hydrogen embrittlement: fundamentals and testing.
- Material properties and testing at cryogenic temperatures.
- Experimental techniques for hydrogen quantification.
- Hydrogen permeation and permeation barrier coatings.
- Fundamentals of hydrogen permeation in composites.
- High temperature oxidation and water vapour corrosion.
- Modelling hydrogen transport in materials.
- Material challenges in hydrogen production methods.
- Material challenges in electrolysis and fuel cells.
- Materials for Hydrogen Storage and Transport.
- Standards for Hydrogen Storage and Transport.
- Challenges in hydrogen internal combustion engines.
- Tritium in nuclear fusion.
- Hydrogen safety.
- Hydrogen sensors.
Find out more through Royce at Cranfield University here.
March 19 2026
