SimUlation of rotomolded poLymer viscosity for HYdrogen by ultraSonic testing methode – ULHYS

The ULHYS project focus on the French strategy of the development of the hydrogen technology. The ambition is to contribute to the process’s optimization used for hydrogen storage tank type IV manufacturing (a bilayer with a composite and a polymer). The objective of the project is to understand and knowing the four steps of rotomolding process, the process used for producing polyethylene liners. The project is based on two complementary approaches: an ultrasonic testing method to monitor in situ and in real-time the polymer viscosity evolution during a rotomolding cycle, and the simulation of the rotomolding during polymer processing. The results of the project will provide technological building blocks for the optimization of type IV hydrogen storage tanks, and for the development of type V tanks (a monolayer). The rotomolding process will be improved for the benefit of rotomolding companies. The developed tools could be adapted to all transformation processes of polymers.