Effect of activated carbon from polyolefin wax on the hydrogensorption properties of magnesium

The absorption-desorption characteristics during prolonged cycling towards hydrogen of composite 95 wt% Mg- 5 wt% activated carbon (synthesized from polyolefin wax, a waste product of polyethylene production at low pressure- POW) obtained by ball milling under Ar atmosphere are investigated. Even at first few cycles of hydriding the 95 wt% Mg- 5 wt% POW is reached about 7 wt% of hydrogen absorption capacity and after 80 cycles of hydriding-dehydridng the hydrogen absorption capacity remains high. At the 2nd cycle the sample absorbed 7.1 wt% and 6.4 wt% at 80th cycle. Probably some deterioration of the material occurs because of sintering and oxidation. The presence of activated carbon derived from POW influences positively on hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of magnesium, leading to enhanced rate of hydriding reaction and high absorption capacity during prolonged cycling.