A Round Robin Test exercise on hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of a magnesium hydride based material

• A Round Robin Test involving 14 different international laboratories on a MgH2 based material.
• Comparison of the data delivered by participants and basic statistic evaluation of the results.
• The obtained results suggest importance of standard procedures and best practices guidelines.

A Round Robin Test exercise on magnesium hydride (MgH2) was performed by 14 laboratories with the aim to compare experimental isothermal data such PCI curves, kinetics curves and formation enthalpies together with a basic statistical evaluation of the results.The full hydrogen capacity was found to vary in the range 5.1–6.4 wt.% at 280 °C (553 K) and in the range 5.3–6.6 wt.% at 320 °C (593 K) (value for 1 MPa hydrogen pressure). The relative standard deviations of 6.9% and 7.2%, respectively, were measured for absorption. The absorption plateau pressure of magnesium hydride varies between 0.08 and 0.14 MPa with an average of 0.10 MPa and a relative standard deviation of 17.3% at 280 °C (553 K). At 320 °C (593 K) the absorption plateau pressure results fall in the range 0.26–0.45 MPa, with a relative standard deviation of 17.6%. Kinetics curves were affected by much higher data dispersion than the PCI data. The enthalpy of absorption was −75.7 KJ/moleH2, with a relative standard deviation of 4.4%. The results highlight the importance of well defined measuring and reporting protocols as a base for future standard procedures.