OCAS: Department of Surface Engineering

General expertise of the research group

At the department of surface engineering, OCAS focusses on applied research and development concerning surface preparation, coating processes, morphologies, and other surface aspects such as corrosion. Supported by a state-of-the-art lab, OCAS can perform a full characterisation of surfaces besides several tools for testing surface properties and performing surface exposure and accelerated degradation tests. On the semi-industrial plating line (electrodeposition), OCAS can make samples for customers and assist in projects looking to, e.g.: alternative electrolytes, optimisation of process parameters or improvement of coating morphology including all related analyses thereof.

Specific hydrogen- related expertise & research topics

• Applied R&D on the interaction between hydrogen and materials.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the metallurgical phenomena.
• Modelling of interaction at the interface of hydrogen and substrate material: diffusion, adsorption kinetics, saturation.
• Numerical simulations for prediction of lifetime in a hydrogen environment.
• Coatings for H-barriers
• Corrosion testing in hydrogen related circumstances
• Hydrogen ingress during electrochemical coating processes (Process simulations on electroplating pilot line: https://vimeo.com/458463355)
• Hydrogen effusion from substrate materials during degassing
• Enamelling and hydrogen-related issues (fish scale)

Available equipment/tools:

All analytical equipment for measuring hydrogen content, in and through materials. OCAS is accredited for this analysis and qualified to work with deuterium.

• See equipment as specified in section Metallurgy
• State of the art lab for surface characterisation
• Techniques for appearance, roughness, hardness, 2D/3D-topography, …

Participating in FL/B/EU funded projects with H2 related research:

• Open to collaborate in funded projects
• FORGE – Development of novel coating materials for a sustainable future (Evaluation of hydrogen pick up and hydrogen embrittlement) – H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2018-2020.
• NOHENTRY – Reuse of existing pipeline systems for H2 transport via surface functionalisations inhibiting Hydrogen entry – ETF 2021

International collaborations:

• OCAS mainly works on a bilateral agreement between national or international customers. Different extends are possible, from a single measurement up to a dedicated research program. OCAS aims to accelerate the R&D at the customer, giving support by sharing competences and specific equipment.

Main relevant publications

See an excerpt of OCAS publications in section Metallurgy