Alloys based on Group 5 metals for hydrogen purification membranes

• The Ta77Nb23 alloy showed hydrogen permeability high enough to be used in diffusion purification technology.
• The Ta77Nb23 alloy has mechanical properties suitable for practical application.
• The hydrogen permeability data were acquired for the alloys with no special coatings.

Production of high-purity hydrogen is required to move to power systems with little environmental impact. The considerable part of hydrogen is suggested to be obtained by methane conversion and its separation from other hydrocarbon gases which are not involved in the energy production process (associated gas, waste gas of petrochemical industry, etc.). The aim of this study was to compare properties of low cost alloys for membranes for hydrogen purification and separation. To investigate the membranes of V53Ti26Ni21 and Ta77Nb23 (wt.%) alloys, the specific hydrogen permeability and micro hardness tests, metallography and X-ray diffraction were applied. It was concluded the Ta77Nb23 (wt.%) alloy has hydrogen permeability parameters and mechanical characteristics that make it suitable for the production of thin membranes.